Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray, and Smollett / With Memoirs, Critical Dissertations, and Explanatory Notes

Name: Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray, and Smollett / With Memoirs, Critical Dissertations, and Explanatory Notes
Author: Samuel Johnson

By Samuel Johnson

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About This Book

A collected edition assembles the poets' lyrical and satirical pieces together with memoirs, critical dissertations, and explanatory notes by the editor. The poems range from moral and satirical imitations to stage prologues, seasonal odes, epigrams, epitaphs, playful parodies, and translations of classical passages, alongside occasional lyrics and paratexts written for social moments. The accompanying memoirs offer biographical framing while the critical essays and notes contextualize imagery, classical allusions, and textual variants, guiding readers through the poems' forms, themes, and the varied modes of eighteenth-century poetic expression.

About the Author

Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was an influential English writer and lexicographer, best known for his comprehensive dictionary, "A Dictionary of the English Language," which laid the groundwork for modern lexicography. His literary contributions span various genres, including poetry, essays, and biography. Johnson's works often reflect his keen insight into human nature and society, as seen in his notable titles such as "A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" and "Lives of the English Poets." He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time, engaging with contemporaries like James Boswell, whose biography of Johnson remains a classic. His legacy endures in the realms of literature and language.