James Boswell: The Life of Johnson The Life of Johnson

This is a radical introduction to the Life of Johnson. It discusses the main structural, dramatic, historical and imaginative aspects of the work, and establishes its intellectual contexts: Hume's philosophy, earlier biographical writings by Boswell, and the French and German Enlightenment and romantic traditions. Professor Clingham offers an account of the Life based upon reassessment of the nature of biography, of Boswell's style and thought, and of Johnson's own works. As he examines the Life's complex psychological, emotional and artistic facets, a fresh picture of Boswell as biographer emerges. The book also provides a table of the principal scenes and conversations in the Life, as well as a chronological table of Boswell's life and times and a guide to further reading.

Preface; Textual note; Chronology; Some of the principle scenes and conversations in the Life; 1. Boswell's reputation; 2. Boswell's art in the Life; 3. The structure of Boswell's experience and the Life; 4. The structure, scenes, and conversations of the Life; 5. The ending of the Life and the meaning of Johnson's character; 6. Boswell's modernity; Conclusion: the place of the Life; Bibliography and guide to further reading.

This is a radical introduction to the Life of Johnson. It discusses the main structural, dramatic, historical and imaginative aspects of the work, and establishes its intellectual contexts: Hume's philosophy, earlier biographical writings by Boswell, and the French and German Enlightenment and romantic traditions.