Samuel JohnsonHe was a servant to the public, a writer for hire. He was a hero, an author adding to the glory of his nation. But can a writer be both hack and hero? The career of Samuel Johnson, recounted here by Lawrence Lipking, proves that the two can be one. And it further proves, in its enduring interest for readers, that academic fashions today may be a bit hasty in pronouncing the "death of the author." |
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... character . Thus comments from servants often receive more atten- tion than major public events . In the " Life of Pope , " for instance , much of the central section inspects his " petty peculiarities , " reported by “ a female ...
... character shall not be suppressed . " 36 With a playful wink to the reader , the two Johnsons merge into one , impartial , wise , and generous - a model of what the English critic should be . That model critic stands behind the Lives of ...
... character may be scorned , the poet Waller must be given his due . Johnson draws a careful line between them . 9951 Nevertheless , the line often seems frayed . From the beginning , some readers have always suspected that Johnson's ...
Contents
the Western Islands of Scotland | 234 |
The Lives of the English Poets | 259 |
Johnsons Endings | 295 |
Copyright | |
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