All Formats & Editions

Samuel Johnson's literary reputation rests on such a varied output that he defies easy description: poet, critic, lexicographer, travel writer, essayist, editor, and, thanks to his good friend Boswell, the subject of one of the most famous English biographies.

This edition presents not only familiar pieces like Rasselas, "The Vanity of Human Wishes," the Prefaces to Shakespeare and the Dictionary, many Rambler and Idler essays, and biographical and critical works, but also a substantial sampling of lesserknown prose, poetry, letters,... Read Full Overview

Samuel Johnson's literary reputation rests on such a varied output that he defies easy description: poet, critic, lexicographer, travel writer, essayist, editor, and, thanks to his good friend Boswell, the subject of one of the most famous English biographies.
This volume... Read Full Overview