The Life Of Samuel Johnson
By James Boswell
Published by George Routledge And Sons: London c1859 (undated)
Bound for Scotch College - Melbourne
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Published around 1859 by George Routledge and Sons of London, The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell remains one of the most celebrated biographies in the English language. This mid-nineteenth-century Routledge edition presents Boswell's masterful portrait of the great lexicographer, critic, and wit of eighteenth-century England, preserving the vitality of Johnson's intellect and personality through rich detail, vivid dialogue, and sharp social observation. Drawing upon his close personal friendship with Johnson, Boswell documents their conversations and travels, offering readers an intimate and human portrait of a man whose influence on literature and moral thought was immense.
This particular copy holds special historical interest, having been custom bound for Scotch College, Melbourne — a testament to the enduring educational and cultural significance of Boswell's work across the British Empire. Combining literary charm with documentary precision, it remains an indispensable source for students of English literature and Enlightenment thought. This edition would appeal to collectors of classic biographies, admirers of Johnsonian literature, and those interested in the intellectual heritage of the Victorian educational tradition.
Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography calls him "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history"."
