127:, Bage was the son of a paper-maker who had four wives, the first of whom was Bage's mother. She died soon after his birth. Bage received his early education at a common school in Derby, where he was an excellent student. He attained a working knowledge of Latin by the age of seven. He was given his training as a paper-maker while he was an apprentice to his father. At the age of 23, Bage married a beautiful and wealthy young woman. With the boost in his finances he set up a paper-manufacturing business in
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Bage was a skilled businessman and his smooth running of his business allowed him time for intellectual pursuits. He learned the French language on his own, through books, and studied mathematics. In 1765 he entered into a partnership in an iron foundry with three other men including
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217:, his last novel. Although regarded as radical at the time, it is somewhat disjointed. The first half has strong philosophical content, but in the second half the book, whilst retaining a strong satirical element, becomes more of a
225:, without either formal education or religion. With only nature to teach him, he sees through the hypocrisy of society and English manners. It is notable for pursuing the theme of the
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It was not until he was 53 that he took to literature; however, in the 15 years following, he produced six novels, of which
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111:(11 March 1730 – 1 September 1801) was an English businessman and novelist.
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For the
Australian polar explorer sometimes known as "Bob Bage", see
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Enlightenment: Britain and the
Creation of the Modern World
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211:The work for which he is chiefly read today is
150:Bage left Elford in 1793 and resided nearby in
424:Lives of the Eminent Novelists and Dramatists
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426:. London: Frederick Warne. pp. 605–617.
16:English businessman and novelist (1730–1801)
438:Biography on Revolutionary Players website
346:(Online ed.), Oxford University Press
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343:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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422:Scott, Walter (1870). "Robert Bage".
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478:18th-century English male writers
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162:Literary work and public life
483:18th-century English writers
307:"A Biography of Robert Bage"
21:Edward Frederick Robert Bage
206:Lunar Society of Birmingham
202:Derby Philosophical Society
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87:Businessman, novelist
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109:Robert Bage
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115:Biography
58:, England
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