The Lives of the Poets was the crowning achievement of Samuel Johnson's rich and varied literary life. Initially planned as a series of rapid-fire prefaces introducing separate volumes on English poets, Johnson's project evolved into a comprehensive biographical and critical survey of English poetry from the time of Cowley to the time of Gray. Giving free rein to his tastes, interests, likes, and dislikes, Johnson produced both a review of his life of reading in English poetry and an extended discursive statement of his immensely influential literary values. This carefully...
The Lives of the Poets was the crowning achievement of Samuel Johnson's rich and varied literary life. Initially planned as a series of rapid-f...
From July 1741 to March 1744, Samuel Johnson composed speeches based on the actual debates in Parliament for publication in the Gentleman's Magazine. Because it was then illegal to print any account of parliamentary activities, the magazine published Johnson's contributions as the rather thinly disguised "Debates in the Senate of Magna Lilliputia." These three volumes present Johnson's entire debate project with accompanying critical notes and, for the first time, retain his original Lilliputian terminology.
From July 1741 to March 1744, Samuel Johnson composed speeches based on the actual debates in Parliament for publication in the Gentleman's Maga...