Johnson, Samuel. The Beauties of Johnson, consisting of Selections from his Works. Boston: N. H. Whitaker, 1828. [11983]
Printed paper over card, the binding is soiled, lacks over half of the backstrip and the rear board is nearly detached, 4 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches. Former owner's inscriptions on the front end papers, "Reading is the food of the mind." Engraved portrait of Johnson by T. Kelly. 160 pages with moderate to dark foxing. The contents are arranged alphabetically by subject. Fair. Hardcover.
Not in the greatest of condition, but with readable and interesting contents.
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), the eminent English author and philosopher, "English critic, biographer, essayist, poet, and lexicographer, regarded as one of the greatest figures of 18th-century life and letters...his career can be seen as a literary success story of the sickly boy from the Midlands who by talent, tenacity, and intelligence became the foremost literary figure and the most formidable conversationalist of his time. For future generations, Johnson was synonymous with the later 18th century in England. The disparity between his circumstances and achievement gives his life its especial interest...In 1763 Johnson met the 22-year-old James Boswell, who would go on to make him the subject of the best-known and most highly regarded biography in English. The first meeting with this libertine son of a Scottish laird and judge was not auspicious, but Johnson quickly came to appreciate the ingratiating and impulsive young man. Boswell kept detailed journals, published only in the 20th century, which provided the basis for his biography of Johnson and also form his own autobiography." - Britannica online.
