Ben Johnson: A Literary Life

by W. David Kay

A concise biography of Johnson's career, placed in the context of Jacobean politics, court patronage, and his many literary rivalries. Stressing his wit and inventiveness, Kay explores the strategies by which Johnson attempted to maintain his independence and introduces new evidence concerning his appropriation of other English writers' work. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Michael Bully · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartily recommended. I knew next to nothing about Ben Johnson's life and work but now keen to start reading his work. This author manages to write quite an in depth biography with a fair amount of literary criticism, but all presented in such a fashion that the book neither becomes 'dumbed down' or too scholarly for people knew to Jacobean literature.
Johnson's life is interesting enough in his own right, well educated at Westminster School so grounded in the classics and lucky enough to be taught by the famous antiquarian William Camden. Yet Johnson was also an accomplished bricklayer. He spent time in prison as a debtor and only escaped hanging by claiming 'benefit of the clergy' after killing a man in a duel -though was branded on the thumb and had all his goods confiscated as punishment. He was also jailed for incurring King James 1/VI displeasure with his play 'Eastward Ho' . Like many of his time Johnson veered between Anglicanism and the Roman Catholic faith, whilst enjoying the earthly pleasures of life.
Johnson's contribution to the evolution of the masque, to Jacobean comedy with 'Volpone' , whilst so was his attempts to bring the classics to life but as a vehicle to offer social and political comment with 'Sejanus' are depicted well and set in the historical and political context of the time . Johnson seem to be on the cusp of either being revered by his contemporaries or being able to generate offence. Highly Recommended.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.) A scholarly study of the poet-playwright Ben Jonson ... reveals the immense influence of his mentor, William Camden, during his truncated education at the Westminster School in London ... this foundation in Latin & Greek led to the immense role that classical literature played in Jonson's work, almost to the point of plagiarism ... addresses in depth the artwork of Jonson's plays, and sheds light on the atmosphere created by the Jacobean court ... well-researched and informative ...