Sir Richard Steele would be an unfamiliar name to many people. Sir Richard was born in 1671 in Dublin, Ireland. Tragically, by the age of five, both of his parents had died. Sir Richard was raised by relatives who provided him with an excellent education. As an adult, Sir Richard was a captain in King William's army and pursued his passion for literature.
In 1701, Sir Richard wrote The Christian Hero , which discussed his views on masculinity and morality. He was soon accused of hypocrisy after being observed not practising what he preached. Despite this, Sir Richard was respected for his contributions to literature.
It is hard to know what impact Sir Richard's writings had on the lives of others. However, a statement he made a few hundred years ago seems very relevant to Book Week in 2025.