The Ways of The World (1753–56): Authorship, Irony, and the Essay-Periodical

ABSTRACT: Mainly known today for its role in the dispute over the Earl of Chesterfield's patronage (or otherwise) of Johnson's Dictionary , Robert Dodsley and Edward Moore's The World (1753–56) was one of the most successful single-essay periodicals of its day. This article presents a detailed account of the work, focusing especially on the critical and historical issues raised by its multiple authorship, essayistic tone, and elite associations. Turning to its early nineteenth-century afterlives, the article also assesses how The World 's trademark irony and titled contributors affected its standing at this key moment in the canonization of the classic essay serials.