The Cambridge Companion to Samuel Johnson (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

This Companion provides a unique introduction and guide to the works and life of one of the key figures in English literary history. The source of endless familiar aphorisms, the compiler of the first great dictionary in English, the greatest of essayists, and one of the most distinctive characters and conversationalists in our literary culture, Johnson is here surveyed in his entirety. Chapters on the major works, his life, conversation, letters and critical reception appear alongside fresh thematic essays, a chronology and a guide to further reading. Cover......Page 1 The Cambridge Companion to Samuel Johnson......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 List of illustrations......Page 10 Notes on contributors......Page 12 Chronology......Page 14 List of short titles and abbreviations......Page 18 Introduction......Page 22 1 Extraordinarily ordinary: the life of Samuel Johnson......Page 25 2 Johnson and the arts of conversation......Page 39 3 Johnson's poetry......Page 55 4 Johnson, the essay, and The Rambler......Page 72 5 Johnson and the condition of women......Page 88 6 Johnson's Dictionary......Page 106 7 Johnson's politics......Page 123 8 Johnson and imperialism......Page 135 9 The skepticism of Johnson's Rasselas......Page 148 10 Shakespeare: Johnson's poet of nature......Page 164 11 Life and literature in Johnson's Lives of the Poets......Page 182 12 Johnson's Christian thought......Page 213 13 "From China to Peru": Johnson in the traveled world......Page 230 14 "Letters about nothing": Johnson and epistolary writing......Page 245 15 Johnson's critical reception......Page 261 Further reading......Page 275 Extraordinarily ordinary : the life of Samuel Johnson / Philip Davis -- Johnson and the arts of conversation / Catherine N. Parke -- Johnson's poetry / Howard D. Weinbrot -- Johnson, the essay, and The rambler / Paul J. Korshin -- Johnson and the condition of women / Eithne Henson -- Johnson's Dictionary / Robert DeMaria, Jr. -- Johnson's politics / Robert Folkenflik -- Johnson and imperialism / Clement Hawes -- The skepticism of Johnson's Rasselas / Fred Parker -- Shakespeare : Johnson's poet of nature / Philip Smallwood -- Life and literature in Johnson's Lives of the poets / Greg Clingham -- Johnson's Christian thought / Michael F. Suarez -- "From China to Peru" : Johnson in the traveled world / John Wiltshire -- "Letters about nothing" : Johnson and epistolary writing / Tom Keymer -- Johnson's critical reception / Steven Lynn. This Companion provides a unique introduction and guide to the works and life of one of the most challenging and wide-ranging writers in English literary history This Companion, First Published In 1997, Provides An Introduction To The Works And Life Of One Of The Key Figures In English Literary History.