In ‘Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist, ‘ Samuel Smiles delves into the remarkable life of a self-made man, connecting the realms of art, social service, and personal transformation. The narrative chronicles the life of Jasmin, a humble barber who transcended his modest beginnings to become a celebrated poet and philanthropist. Smiles employs a biographical style that blends historical detail with inspirational anecdotes, reflecting the Victorian ethos of self-help and moral improvement, thus situating Jasmin’s story within the broader context of 19th-century England’s class dynamics and the emerging value placed on individual agency. Samuel Smiles, a Scottish author and advocate of self-improvement, was deeply influenced by the ideas of personal striving and social responsibility, which permeate his oeuvre. His own background as the son of a carpenter instilled in him an appreciation for hard work and perseverance. Smiles’ earlier works, particularly ‘Self-Help, ‘ emphasize the power of individual effort, and in profiling Jasmin, he highlights the transformative potential of passion and generosity in one’s community, embodying the ideals he championed throughout his life. This book is recommended for readers interested in biographical narratives that celebrate human resilience and creativity. Smiles’ portrayal of Jasmin inspires not only through its vivid recounting of a life well-lived but also through its implicit call to action, urging readers to embrace philanthropy and the arts as vital components of personal and societal development.
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Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) was a distinguished Scottish author and reformer, most renowned for his contribution to the self-help movement through his eponymous book, ‘Self-Help’. Born in Haddington, East Lothian, Smiles pursued a career in medicine before engaging more profoundly in journalism and politics. Early aligned with the Chartists and a proponent of political reform, Smiles eventually distanced himself from direct political activism, focusing instead on individual moral reform through self-improvement and self-reliance. His seminal work, ‘Self-Help’ (1859), underpinned this philosophy and garnered widespread popularity, emphasizing thrift, industry, and personal responsibility as avenues to success. Smiles’ vivid prose and inspiring anecdotes contributed to the book’s reputation as a Victorian classic. Beyond his famous treatise, Smiles penned several biographies aimed at illustrating his self-help principles through the lives of notable individuals. Among these is ‘Jasmin: Barber, Poet, Philanthropist’ (1891), which narrates the remarkable story of Jacques Jasmin, a French hairdresser-turned-poet acclaimed for his charitable acts. This biography reflects Smiles’ literary propensity for engaging life stories that promote a model of virtuous and industrious living. His writing style combined factual narrative with motivational discourse, earning him a place in the pantheon of Victorian moralists. Despite critiques that pointed to his disregard of structural societal problems in favor of individualism, Smiles’ legacy in the canon of self-improvement literature remains influential.
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