With an Introduction by Dr Angus Calder. The 22-year old James Boswell first met Johnson, who was then aged 54, in 1763. Nine years later he wrote in his journal of his 'constant plan to write the life of Mr Johnson'. Boswell was tireless in his search for authenticated proof, and his training as a lawyer helped him sift the evidence of friends and to operate forensically on Johnson himself. Boswell drew him out as no one else could, and although three-quarters of the book concerns the last twenty years of Johnson's life, ...
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With an Introduction by Dr Angus Calder. The 22-year old James Boswell first met Johnson, who was then aged 54, in 1763. Nine years later he wrote in his journal of his 'constant plan to write the life of Mr Johnson'. Boswell was tireless in his search for authenticated proof, and his training as a lawyer helped him sift the evidence of friends and to operate forensically on Johnson himself. Boswell drew him out as no one else could, and although three-quarters of the book concerns the last twenty years of Johnson's life, his skill in constructing the early years is remarkable. The text of this complete and unabridged edition is that of the 1791 first edition, and it remains, by common consent, the greatest biography in the English language. Johnson's centrality in 18th century letters is established not only by Boswell's record of his life and conversations, but also by the success of the work in placing him in a literary and cultural context. James Boswell (1740-95) was educated at Edinburgh and Glasgow universities as a lawyer. He moved to London in 1760, and was by turns a libertine and a Puritan. Introduced by his friends Sheridan and Garrick, Boswell met Johnson in 1763, and discovered a life's calling.
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Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D, Comprehending an to cart. $8.00, fair condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1821 by J. Richardson.
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Used-Acceptable. Fair hardback in brown cloth. Vol.1 only of 5. Frontis portrait foxed, with offsetting on title page; end papers lightly foxed; hinges cracked & repaired; board edges worn; loss at head & foot of spine; dark green cloth tape over most of spine, with panel cut out for title label (label now mostly missing),
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D, Vol. III to cart. $8.13, good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1821 by J. Richardson.
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Used-Good. Good hardback in brown cloth. Vol.3 only (of 5). Bound in brown moire-effect cloth with black title label on spine. Some pencil side-lining in text; a few spots of foxing; spine darkened, with small loss & repaired damage.
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson (Volume 1-5) to cart. $9.36, poor condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1897 by J.M. Dent & Sons.
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Volume 1-5. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. No dust jacket. Small octavo size. Leather binding. Gilt lettering on spine. Gilt stamp on cover. Loose binding. Clean pages. Chipped and rubbed covers. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 800grams, ISBN:
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D, Vol. II to cart. $11.69, fair condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1819 by R. Edwards.
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Used-Acceptable. Poor hardback in quarter leather. Volume II only of four. Owner's name on front free end paper; inscriptions in old copper plate script on frontis verso, pencil drawings; pages browned with age and use and untrimmed; both boards detached & worn, with soiled blue paper; remains of an old blue card cover glued to pastedowns; leather of spine worn, with loss at head & foot.
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson (Volume 4) to cart. $14.29, poor condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1897 by J.M. Dent & Sons.
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Volume 4. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Green leatherbound octavo hardback, with front board unattached. Gilt pictorial on cover and gilt lettering on spine. Upper page edges gilted. Pages in good, clean condition overall. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 200grams, ISBN:
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson (Volume 3) to cart. $15.08, poor condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1897 by J.M. Dent & Sons.
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Volume 3. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Green leatherbound octavo hardback, with board unattached. Upper page edges gilted. Gilt pictorial on cover and gilt lettering on spine. Pages in good, clean condition overall. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 200grams, ISBN:
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson Lld to cart. $15.44, good condition, Sold by The Guru Bookshop rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1872 by James Blackwood.
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson (Volumes 1 & 2, 3 & 4 ) to cart. $18.89, fair condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1872 by Bell & Daldy.
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Volumes 1 & 2, 3 & 4, bound in 2 volumes. Ex-library books and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. Hardback covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. Both volumes: 8vo. Maroon cloth boards. Faded spine. Boards rubbed. Gilt lettering on spine. Gilt profile on front board. In volume 1, the frontis and title page are damp stained. The plates in both books are damp stained. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 1550grams, ISBN:
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson Vol 5 to cart. $19.40, fair condition, Sold by Victoria Bookshop rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bere Alston, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1885 by London Routledge 1885.
Add this copy of The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics) to cart. $22.00, good condition, Sold by My Dead Aunt's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hyattsville, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1979 by Penguin Classics.
Beautiful Everyman Library edition. Green cloth-bound octavo size with sewn-in signature binding. Page count of 1000+ permits type-face large enough for easy reading. For a book selling at around $20, it's an amazing value.
ghmus7
May 20, 2008
A great biography
Certainly one of the greatest biographies in literary history. Boswell paint a totally comprehensive portrait to Samula Johnson, one of the most brilliant and erudite whe ever lived. However, the work is not just illuminating but also very funny, sometime surprizing and also facinating.
