The Life Of Samuel Johnson - Softcover

James Boswell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0461844982 ISBN 13: 9780461844986

Publisher: HardPress, 2016

Synopsis

The Life Of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell. A detailed early portrait of Samuel Johnson as recorded by his devoted biographer, tracing his life and intellect from the late 1750s into the mid-1760s and beyond. The excerpt surveys Johnson's prolific literary activity, including outputs for The Idler, preparations for a Shakespeare edition, translations, and prefatory materials for varied publications, all set against a web of friendships and patrons. It highlights Johnson's personal trials, such as his mother's death in 1759 and financial concerns, as well as his public stance on social hierarchy, virtue, religion, skepticism, and the ethics of literary patronage. The narrative emphasizes the Johnson–Boswell relationship, Johnson's conversations with contemporaries, and the first interview in 1763 that shapes Boswell's biographical method. Recurring figures—Reynolds, Goldsmith, Burke, Hume, Rousseau, and others—populate a portrait of Johnson as a professional writer, mentor, and public intellectual, supported by a vibrant social and literary milieu. The material also situates Johnson's life within the broader history of mid-18th-century British letters, including his club, travels, and polemics.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0461844982
• ISBN 13: 9780461844986
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 334