My Sam Johnson

A well-researched introduction ... This book features many of Johnson’s quotes, along with Jones’ accompanying learned commentary and historical context. Although the author doesn’t hide his admiration for his subject, he’s also unafraid to explore Johnson’s personal difficulties, including episodes of depression, and personal aspects, such as his sexual habits. As a biography that targets general readers, the book more than succeeds in its mission to offer an accessible account of Johnson’s life and work in fewer than 200 pages. Jones, the author of multiple books and a former academic librarian, is a skilled writer who carefully balances erudite literary analysis with an engaging writing style. The book’s impressive research is backed by a network of endnotes and a bibliography, both of which reflect a firm command over Johnson’s extensive work and relevant scholarly literature alike. — KIRKUS REVIEWS

This book is a biography of the the great man of letters of the eighteenth century, Samuel Johnson. And it has a special purpose: presenting the story of Sam’s life in a shorter form than any other researched biography, and conveying that story in a style that’s clear and accessible for any general reader.

During his productive life, Sam started by doing basic writing and editing for a magazine, but he went on to produce some major literary works: essays and poetry, biographies, an edition of the plays of Shakespeare with his own insightful comments, and of course the first modern dictionary of English. My Sam Johnson is yours as well, and one of the main goals is to explain Sam’s style in order to encourage you to read more of his writing.

Sam’s character is also examined. He was successful but also very self-critical, and in between the visits to clubs and pubs where he revelled in talking about writing and everything else, he was often depressed and sleepless.

Sam is a fascinating and complex man, and My Sam Johnson will introduce you to him for the first time or make you appreciate him even more.

Wayne Jones is a writer, podcaster, and editor in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. He is working on his second novel, hosts the podcast Different Shapes, and is managing editor of Nabokov Online Journal.

Wayne Jones is a writer and podcaster in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. He currently hosts the podcast Different Shapes and is working on his second novel.