[Fragments on Christianity]

Of all the topics dealt with in De Quincey’s surviving undated manuscript fragments, none looms larger than religion. Given his mother’s Evangelical allegiance and its effect on his upbringing, the temper of the age and De Quincey’s own philosophical and spiritual interests, this is hardly surprising. Probably De Quincey made notes on religious questions at many periods of his life, and it seems to be merely by chance that so many of these writings carry no indication which would enable us to date them.