Dr Johnson's Dictionary: The Extraordinary Story of the Book That Defined the World - Softcover

Henry Hitchings

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0719566320 ISBN 13: 9780719566325

Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd, 2006

Synopsis

By 1700, France and Italy already had dictionaries of their own, and it became a matter of national pride that England should rival them. This is the story of Dr Johnson's attempt to define each and every word.

About this title

About the Author:

Henry Hitchings was born in 1974. Educated at the universities of Oxford and London, he is the author of Dr Johnson's Dictionary and has contributed to many newspapers and magazines.

Review:

'This is a delightful book about an extraordinary man. I suspect Dr Johnson himself would have approved . . . and there's no greater praise than that' * John Humphreys * 'Engaging' * Literary Review * 'Henry Hitchings's book is lively, erudite and enriched with colourful anecdotes - a masterful account of one of the greatest literary triumphs of the eighteenth century' * Giles Milton * 'A lively and appetite-whetting biography of the great book' * Herald * 'This is a delightful book about an extraordinary man. I suspect Dr Johnson himself would have approved... and there's no greater praise than that' * John Humphrys * 'An extraordinary read' * Venue * 'The author has followed ably in the footsteps of his subject, producing a witty and learned book on a man whose work shaped, and continues to shape, the way we speak and think' * The Good Book Guide * 'The author is to be congratulated on narrating the drudgery of the dictionary's compilation so engagingly' * Evening Standard * 'Hugely entertaining, it's a real treat for word lovers' * Sainsburys Magazine * 'Henry Hitchings' book on Samuel Johnson's mighty Dictionary is so good, so apposite, so chewy and edible, that I felt as if I were rereading it on my first pass' * Will Self, New Statesman * 'Hitchings has written a lively and appetite-whetting biography of the great book itself...one of the most fascinating and influential literary endeavours in the history of English literature' * Herald * 'Entertaining study...The great strength of Hitching's book is the compliment he pays to Johnson by so lavishly quoting from the Dictionary' * Sunday Telegraph * 'Henry Hitchings (a fine 18th-century name that) is a remarkable young scholar of the age of Johnson, and his DR JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY, arranged alphabetically like the eponymous original whose 250th anniversary it celebrates, offers an entertaining window on this most fascinating character and his times' * BBC History Magazine * 'An engaging profile of one of London's great characters' * Time Out, Tom Howard * 'Memorable passages on a range of fascinating subjects.' * The Good Book Guide * 'This story is a pleasurable stroll through Johnson's life, and combines elements of biography with social history and an examination of Johnson's concerns, illustrated by examples from the great work itself.' * Irish Times * 'In [Johnson's] description of "dull" he writes: "Not exhilarating; not delightful; as, to make dictionaries is dull work." Nobody could describe Hitching's book as dull' * Colin Waters, Sunday Herald * 'Excellent... Hitching's book is full of serendipitous felicities' * David Nokes, Times Higher Educational Supplement * 'Hitchings excellent book is both a great potted guide to the dictionary and its creation, and a marvellous biography of Johnson...A must-have for devotees of the English Language' * Observer * 'Full of serendipitous felicities' * Times Higher Education Supplement * 'Hitchings has produced an absorbing account of Johnson's Dictionary that is as likeable as it is learned' * Independent * 'Full of elegance and nail-on-the-head wit' * Sunday Telegraph * 'A goldmine of pleasures...Hitchings has an infectious relish for words' - Phil Baker * Sunday Times * 'A clever, sympathetic and witty sketch of both man and book.' * Waterstones Books Quarterly * Hitchings writes with Johnsonian clarity and verve ... This is a charming book * Evening Standard * A rich, lively and attractive book. * The Times Literary Supplement * Clever, wittily-written and amusingly-arranged * The Guardian * A pleasant stroll, with a genial guide, through Johnson's life * The Independent on Sunday * Lively and entertaining * Observer * I can warmly recommend Henry Hitching's book...affectionate in its portrayal of Johnson, the book itself is immensely likeable, written with serious intent and gentle good humour. * Spectator * Immensely enjoyable, easily erudite * Scotland On Sunday * Excellent. * Daily Express * Ingenious and fascinating * The Sunday Times * Hitchings offers us a highly entertaining guided tour...anyone interested in dictionaries, Dr Johnson or the English language will surely spend many happy hours with this book * The Independent *

About this edition

• Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0719566320
• ISBN 13: 9780719566325
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288