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A Computational Investigation into the Authorship of Sister Peg

Hill, Mark J., Tolonen, Mikko (2021) A Computational Investigation into the Authorship of Sister Peg. Eighteenth-century studies, 54 (4). pp. 861-885. ISSN 0013-2586. (doi:10.1353/ecs.2021.0095) (KAR id:90139)

Abstract

This article engages with the longstanding debate over the authorship of the Scottish Militia pamphlet Sister Peg (1761). While previous evidence is born out of rigorous historical research, a debate remains between whether Adam Ferguson or David Hume was the author. This article uses computational stylometry to statistically investigate this question, with the aim of complementing existing historical evidence rather than overturning it. In doing this it concludes that the work was not written solely by David Hume and, instead, Adam Ferguson is likely to be the sole author or there was a more complicated history of co-authorship.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1353/ecs.2021.0095
Uncontrolled keywords: Eighteenth century history, digital humanities, stylometry, authorship attribution, David Hume, Adam Ferguson, Sister Peg, Scottish militia
Subjects: D History General and Old World
D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D203 Modern History, 1453-
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Mark Hill
Date Deposited: 10 Sep 2021 12:42 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 18:31 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/90139 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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