James Boswell

Easton Press James Boswell books

The Life of Samuel Johnson (4 volume set) - 1993

Franklin Library James Boswell books

The Life of Samuel Johnson - Great Books of the Western World - 3 volumes 1983

  

James Boswell biography

James Boswell, born on October 29, 1740, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a Scottish lawyer, diarist, and biographer, best known for his seminal work "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D." His life and writings have left an indelible mark on the genre of biography, particularly through his detailed and candid portrayal of the renowned English lexicographer and man of letters, Samuel Johnson. Boswell's early life was marked by privilege and intellectual curiosity. He was born into a prosperous family and received a classical education. His journey to becoming a lawyer was influenced by familial expectations, but his true passion lay in literature and the company of intellectuals. In 1762, Boswell embarked on a tour of the European continent, a journey that allowed him to meet and interact with prominent figures of the time, including the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His experiences during this Grand Tour became the foundation for his later work, The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, which chronicled his travels with Samuel Johnson to Scotland.

However, it was his association with Samuel Johnson that defined Boswell's literary legacy. Boswell first met Johnson in 1763, and the two formed a close and enduring friendship. Boswell's meticulous note-taking and journal-keeping during their encounters provided the raw material for what would become one of the most celebrated biographies in the English language. The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., published in 1791, is a monumental work that offers not only a comprehensive account of Johnson's life but also insights into the cultural and intellectual milieu of 18th-century England. Boswell's innovative approach, characterized by a blend of narrative, anecdote, and dialogue, set a new standard for biographical writing. While Boswell's reputation rests largely on his work with Johnson, he was also a prolific writer in his own right. His journals and letters provide a vivid and personal account of his life, relationships, and the social dynamics of his time.

James Boswell faced personal challenges, including struggles with alcohol and periods of self-doubt, but his literary achievements have endured. He passed away on May 19, 1795, in London, leaving a legacy as a pioneer in the art of biography and a chronicler of an era that laid the foundation for modern literary and intellectual life.

 

The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D.

In Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson, one of the most gigantic figures of English literature is exposed with unparalleled immediacy and originality. This biography also details Johnson\'s prolific years in London where he gained popularity as a writer.


Poet, lexicographer, critic, moralist and Great Cham, Dr. Johnson had in his friend Boswell the ideal biographer.
Notoriously and self-confessedly intemperate, Boswell shared with Johnson a huge appetite for life and threw equal energy into recording its every aspect in minute but telling detail. This irrepressible Scotsman was 'always studying human nature and making experiments', and the marvelously vivacious Journals he wrote daily furnished him with first-rate material when he came to write his biography.

The result is a masterpiece that brims over with wit, anecdote and originality. Hailed by Macaulay as the best biography ever written and by Carlyle as a book 'beyond any other product of the eighteenth century', The Life of Samuel Johnson today continues to enjoy its status as a classic of the language.