Synopses & Reviews
The Lives of the Poets was the crowning achievement of Samuel Johnsons rich and varied literary life. Initially planned as a series of rapid-fire prefaces introducing separate volumes on English poets, Johnsons 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 researched three-volume edition of Lives presents a definitive text reflecting Johnsons final wishes for its wording, accompanied by notes of value both to general readers and specialists.
Synopsis
The definitive edition of Lives of the Poets, Johnson's crowing literary achievement 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 researched three-volume edition of Lives presents a definitive text reflecting Johnson's final wishes for its wording, accompanied by notes of value both to general readers and specialists.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
Thomas Kaminski is professor of English, Loyola University. Benjamin Beard Hoover is Professor Emeritus of Brandeis University. O M Brack, Jr., is editor of Volume 17 of The Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson.