James Boswell Meets Samuel Johnson
"James Boswell Meets Samuel Johnson" explores the relationship between two prominent figures in 18th-century literature: Samuel Johnson, an esteemed English writer and lexicographer, and James Boswell, a Scottish writer and biographer. Johnson, born in 1709 and known for his influential work, "A Dictionary of the English Language," greatly impacted English prose and literary criticism. Boswell, who was born in 1740 and initially trained in law, found his calling as a writer, gaining recognition with his work on Corsica. Their first meeting in May 1763 led to a close friendship, with Boswell becoming Johnson's devoted biographer and documenting his thoughts, conversations, and daily life through meticulous notes.
Boswell's admiration for Johnson's wit and insights is evident in his writings, where he celebrated the nuances of conversation and humor. Their shared travels, particularly a notable trip to Scotland, further enriched their relationship and inspired Boswell's later work, "The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides." Boswell's biography of Johnson, published posthumously in 1791, solidified his legacy as a respected author and provided invaluable insights into Johnson's character and intellect. This dynamic partnership between biographer and subject continues to be significant in the study of literary history and the art of biography.
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James Boswell Meets Samuel Johnson
James Boswell Meets Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (1709–84) was an influential English prose writer and lexicographer, most famous for composing A Dictionary of the English Language, a monumental achievement. His biography, The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell and published in 1791 after Johnson's death, is as famous as his dictionary. The two men, biographer and biographee, first met on May 16, 1763.
Boswell was born on October 29, 1740, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He trained in the law but did not pursue that profession actively, preferring to become a writer. Boswell's first significant work was An Account of Corsica, about the Corsican independence movement. In 1763 he was introduced to Johnson, who took a liking to the young man, and after Boswell was admitted to Johnson's prestigious Literary Club, the two began to spend a considerable amount of time together. Boswell became Johnson's devoted biographer, taking copious notes on the older man's daily life and his opinions on every conceivable subject. In particular he chronicled Johnson's legendary dry quips, which made Johnson such a famous conversationalist. As Boswell observed in his biography, “I think no innocent species of wit or pleasantry should be suppressed, and that a good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.” The two friends also traveled together, making a trip to Scotland that later became the subject of a separate book by Boswell, entitled The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1785).
Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson was highly praised and made him a respected author in his own right. He died in London, England, on May 19, 1795.