The Life of Samuel Johnson
by James Boswell
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James Boswell is for some the ideal scribe, for others a sycophantic toady. Edmund Wilson, for example, memorably labeled him "a vain and pushing diarist." Boswell can even be seen as someone unconsciously intent on undermining his idol in sonorous, balanced sentences. Early on in his massive Life, he puts all manner of ideas into our heads with his boobish attempts to clear the youthful Johnson of potential impropriety: "His juvenile attachments to the fair sex were, however, ver...more
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Read in September, 2006
i've read half this book so far and, as with all terribly good, terribly long books that you don't rush through in one go, it's comforting to know that it's at home waiting for me. i'm looking forward to when i can open it up where i left off when life wasn't quite as crazy as it is now and continue giggling at boswell's madness. although the book is titled 'the life of samuel johnson', i am going to need to get a proper biography of the great doctor because i am completely distracted by boswell...more
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I love this book, it's so funny. Boswell was like Johnson's wingman, he kind of followed him around and then wrote this biography that quoted him on all the funny things he said and how much he liked his cat and how weird he was (there is a lot about his cat). Did Johnson invent the dictionary?
I googled so that I could share a couple of my favorite Johnson quotes, which are pretty widely known, but come from this book which is definitely worth reading if you like biographies:
"Sir...more
I googled so that I could share a couple of my favorite Johnson quotes, which are pretty widely known, but come from this book which is definitely worth reading if you like biographies:
"Sir...more
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I came to this "biography" (the ironic quotes because of the present controvery; google and learn, if you're interested) by way of the epigram to Nabokov's "Pale Fire": "This reminds me of the ludicrous account he gave Mr. Lanton, of the despicable state of a young gentleman of good family. 'Sir, when I heard of him last, he was running about town shooting cats.' And then in a sort of kindly reverie, he bethought himself of his own favorite cat, and said, 'But Hodge shan...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
18th century literature lovers
I just read an abridged version of this book. I don't normally approve of abridgements, but this book had never been checked out at the library and, well, I felt sorry for it. I just can't have it feeling lonely. Anyway, it was funny seeing Boswell, the biographer, fawning all over Johnson, and trying to set him up just so he can record Johnson's witty phrases. It was also interesting reading about the literary scene back then; I would have liked more of that than lists of quotes and letters...more
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I put this down because I didn't think I had the time or attention to devote to all 1200 pages of it--but though long, it's not arduous reading. Exceedingly pleasant, in fact. And Johnson is a hero. Richard Howard, in a poem somewhere, referred to the 'glossy carapace' of 18th century diction; Boswell, on his own and aided by copious extracts from Johnson and others, forms a treasure chest of elegantly turned utterance.
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This is a dense book that I've wanted to read in its entirety for some time, but keep putting off because I don't have the time to tackle it all at one go. But what if I signed up for one of those nifty free book-by-e-mail services? That's just what I've done. Now, Boswell will be sending me 241 short sections of his famous book, one every day. I enjoyed Samuel Pepys' blog, so this might work, too.
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Read in January, 2008
So far so good. It's just really, really long. I felt like I was reading the Old Testament again. I love the 18th century rhetoric, but it doesn't exactly make for a page-turner. I just couldn't give my whole Christmas break to just one book.
I'll pick it up later.
I'll pick it up later.
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who likes biography and/r good writing
I always enjoy reading Boswell's accounts of conversations with Samuel Johnson--there are lots of paperback abridged editions and the complete, six volume edition is available free for download from the Gutenberg project www.gutenberg.org/browse/autho....
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Has been called the single most entertaining book in the English language, as well as the most influential biography in the English language. That probably means it will be awful, but I figure I really should give it a try one of these days.
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Serious time committment, but worth it. You really get to know Samuel Johnson in all his quirks and brilliance. Added bonus: you get to see Boswell, the fawning ninny, (and author of the book) chopped to shreds by Johnson. Satisfying.
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Cumbersome, perhaps, but better to get the wheat and the chaff then have to wonder what was left out. Boswell is a little over-zealous, but one has to admire his devotion and tenacity.
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recommends it for:
nearly everyone
Another one of those books I constantly re-read. Not for the dilettante or the weak constitution. But endlessly rewarding, in my experience. Get the unabridged.
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Le pondría la 5ta estrella a la edición de textos escogidos. Es un libro muy divertido. ironías dobles y a veces en triple salto mortal.
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This is an unabridged edition. You don't need to read the unabridged edition to get the benefit.
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docked one star because it's an abridgement -- a good abridgement, but still...
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Reading in daily installments sent by e-mail from DailyLit.com.
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