The Samuel Johnson Encyclopedia

(Hardback)

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Description

Samuel Johnson was one of the most important literary figures of the 18th century, which was sometimes known as the age of Johnson. He authored a pioneering dictionary of the English language, edited Shakespeare, composed poetry and drama, and wrote numerous prose works on moral, philosophical, religious, political and domestic concerns. This encyclopaedia is a guide to Johnson and his milieu. The volume contains more than 650 alphabetically arranged entries on aspects of Johnson's life, career and personality. It describes each of his works in detail, examining such matters as composition, publication and reception. It provides up-to-date accounts of his attitude on key themes and concepts, and explores his central ideas on literary, moral, political, social and religious questions. It provides biographies of all the persons with whom Johnson had any sort of real contact, ranging from his close friends in the world of the arts and publishing, to his domestic intimates and servants, his extended family and even his cat. A full system of cross-referencing allows the reader to locate subjects and entries with ease. This aid should enable students and readers of Johnson to locate facts about him quickly and easily.

Reviews

"Attempting to bring together into one place the important details of Samuel Johnson's life, Rogers includes entries on Johnson's works, his compulsive behavior (e.g., his love of tea and mysterious use of orange peel), his friends and acquaintances, notable people of his time, and his cat Hodge. For lovers of Johnson and readers just discovering him this is an enjoyable reference work, well prepared and clearly written.... [A] worth addition to most academic library collections."-Choice
Attempting to bring together into one place the important details of Samuel Johnson's life, Rogers includes entries on Johnson's works, his compulsive behavior (e.g., his love of tea and mysterious use of orange peel), his friends and acquaintances, notable people of his time, and his cat Hodge. For lovers of Johnson and readers just discovering him this is an enjoyable reference work, well prepared and clearly written.... [A] worth addition to most academic library collections.-Choice
Rogers, a prolific scholar, particularly on topics of Johnsn's era, has gathered here for he first time 'al the essential facts' about Samuel Johnson in one reference volume...this is an essential purchase for larger libraries supporting advanced English literature programs. Other library programs should also consider spending on this scholarly, entertaining, and browsable book.-Library Journal
"Rogers, a prolific scholar, particularly on topics of Johnsn's era, has gathered here for he first time 'al the essential facts' about Samuel Johnson in one reference volume...this is an essential purchase for larger libraries supporting advanced English literature programs. Other library programs should also consider spending on this scholarly, entertaining, and browsable book."-Library Journal

Author Bio

PAT ROGERS is DeBartolo Chair in the Liberal Arts at the University of South Florida. He is the author of more than 200 articles, and his books include Grub Street (1972), The Augustan Vision (1974), Literature and Popular Culture in Eighteenth-Century England (1985), The Oxford Illustrated History of English Literature (1987), the Blackwell Companion to the Enlightenment (1992), Johnson (1993), Essays on Pope (1993), and Johnson and Boswell: The Transit of Caledonia(1995). He is the former president of the Johnson Society of Lichfield, and of the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies.