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Simply written, funny, and compulsively readable, this fine little book has been heralded as one of the finest examples of English prose and offers a compelling glimpse of Samuel Johnson's moral views. Dashed out over the course of a single week to pay for his mother's funeral,... Read Full Overview

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, leaves the easy life of the Happy Valley, accompanied by his sister Nekayah, her attendant Pekuah, and the much-travelled philosopher Imlac. Their journey takes them to Egypt, where they study the various conditions of men's lives, before returning... Read Full Overview

Rasselas and his companions escape the pleasures of the "happy valley" in order to make their "choice of life." By witnessing the misfortunes and miseries of others they come to understand the nature of happiness, and value it more highly. Their travels and enquiries raise important... Read Full Overview

Rasselas compresses everything that puts Dr Johnson among the great lions of English literature and life into this text

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, originally titled The Prince of Abissinia: A Tale, though often abbreviated to Rasselas, is an apologue about happiness by Samuel Johnson. The book's original working title was "The Choice of Life".The story consists of Rasselas,... Read Full Overview

Samuel Johnson's classic exploration of the nature of happiness, following the adventures of Prince Rasselas.

Rasselas--regarded as Johnson's most creative work--presents the story of the journey of Rasselas and his companions in search of "the choice of life." Its charm lies not in its plot, but rather in its wise and humane look at man's constant search for happiness. The text is based... Read Full Overview

In Samuel Johnson's classic philosophical tale, the prince and princess of Abissinia escape their confinement in the Happy Valley and conduct an ultimately unsuccessful search for a choice of life that leads to happiness. Johnson uses the conventions of the Oriental tale to depict... Read Full Overview

The plot is simple in the extreme. Rasselas, son of the King of Abyssinia, is shut up in a beautiful valley, "till the order of succession should call him to the throne." He grows weary of the factitious entertainments of the place, and after much brooding escapes with his sister... Read Full Overview

Rasselas compresses everything that puts Dr Johnson among the great lions of English literature and life into this text

The plot is simple in the extreme. Rasselas, son of the King of Abyssinia, is shut up in a beautiful valley, "till the order of succession should call him to the throne."

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare's... Read Full Overview

Historically recognized as the man who wrote the dictionary, Dr. Johnson amplified his literary fame with the 1759 publication of "The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia". This novel was wildly popular upon its release, despite the fact that Johnson completed the work... Read Full Overview

Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 O.S. 7 September] - 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. Johnson... Read Full Overview

History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is a novel written by Samuel Johnson in 1887. The story centers around the life of Rasselas, the prince of Abyssinia, who is discontented with his luxurious life in the palace and yearns for a deeper understanding of the world. Rasselas... Read Full Overview