The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: James Boswell
- First Published: 1791
- Type of Work: Biography
- Genres: Criticism, Nonfiction, Memoir, Diary, Biography
- Subjects: Authors or writers, Literature, Friendship, Poetry or poets, England or English people, Eighteenth century, Criticism, Wit or humor, London
Though Boswell began the biography in 1786, shortly after the death of Johnson, he had been planning it ever since their famous meeting on May 16, 1763. He had therefore carefully recorded in his diaries and memory everything related to his subject, and he had acted as prompter and stage manager to draw Johnson out. Some of the most memorable episodes in the book, such as the Tory Johnson’s meeting with the Whiggish John Wilkes, resulted from Boswell’s manipulation.
To create what he called his “Flemish portrait” of Johnson, Boswell let his subject speak for himself...
[The entire page is 506 words long]
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