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W.D. com's Reviews > The Life of Samuel Johnson
The Life of Samuel Johnson
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Whew! Nearly four months, already? The thing about insanely long books like this one (1300pp of tiny, tiny type!) is that if you have at most an hour or two to read each day, you really do live with them over time and they become almost a part of the family. You have your little spats with them, they say the most insane or embarrassing things sometimes, but deep down you feel this unbreakable connection and find that you can't do without them, and as I imagine my mom saying to us at Xmas (paraphrasing Jimmie Dale Gilmore), you're glad to see them come, and kinda glad to see them go--until they're gone, that is, and immediately you want them back again...
So no real review on this one --how is one to review a member of the family, who at times seems an entire world to you? A universe? Ahh, quote Hamlet then...
I cannot recommend this more highly, and thank our friend ATJG for goading me into it. Definitely worth coming home to, maybe one day sooner rather than later I will do just that, too.
So no real review on this one --how is one to review a member of the family, who at times seems an entire world to you? A universe? Ahh, quote Hamlet then...
HAMLET My father!--methinks I see my father.
HORATIO Where, my lord?
HAMLET In my mind's eye, Horatio.
HORATIO I saw him once; he was a goodly king.
HAMLET He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.
I cannot recommend this more highly, and thank our friend ATJG for goading me into it. Definitely worth coming home to, maybe one day sooner rather than later I will do just that, too.
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Reading Progress
June 26, 2019
–
Started Reading
June 26, 2019
– Shelved
June 27, 2019
–
0.0%
"From the introduction:
A similar example of going on and on, long after the point has been disposed of, and telling you he is doing or did so, and in this way doing it over again, occurs in a long conversation about[... & etc]
Forewarned is fore-somethinged i guess..."
page
0
A similar example of going on and on, long after the point has been disposed of, and telling you he is doing or did so, and in this way doing it over again, occurs in a long conversation about[... & etc]
Forewarned is fore-somethinged i guess..."
July 2, 2019
–
1.41%
"It is told, 13 that, when a child of three years old, he chanced to tread upon a duckling, the eleventh of a brood, and killed it; upon which, it is said, he dictated to his mother the following epitaph:
“Here lies good master duck,
Whom Samuel Johnson trod on;
If it had liv’d, it had been good luck,
For then we’d had an odd one. ”
Boswell goes on to say that the poem is only spuriously attributed to J..."
page
19
“Here lies good master duck,
Whom Samuel Johnson trod on;
If it had liv’d, it had been good luck,
For then we’d had an odd one. ”
Boswell goes on to say that the poem is only spuriously attributed to J..."
July 2, 2019
–
1.41%
"Paused the Everyman to read the excellent Penguin Intro:
At the end of his life, sick, and provoked by Boswell to think about what might be the fate of one’s friendships in the afterlife, Johnson replied ‘with heat’: ‘How can a man know where his departed friends are, or [... Continues!]"
page
19
At the end of his life, sick, and provoked by Boswell to think about what might be the fate of one’s friendships in the afterlife, Johnson replied ‘with heat’: ‘How can a man know where his departed friends are, or [... Continues!]"
July 2, 2019
–
2.16%
"The pamphlet spreads, incessant hisses rise,
To some retreat the baffled writer flies;
Where no sour criticks snarl, no sneers molest,
Safe from the tart lampoon, and stinging jest;
There begs of heaven a less distinguish’d lot,
Glad to be hid, and proud to be forgot.
Not too shabby Pope-ry for a schoolboy :D"
page
29
To some retreat the baffled writer flies;
Where no sour criticks snarl, no sneers molest,
Safe from the tart lampoon, and stinging jest;
There begs of heaven a less distinguish’d lot,
Glad to be hid, and proud to be forgot.
Not too shabby Pope-ry for a schoolboy :D"
July 2, 2019
–
2.31%
"He might, perhaps, have studied more assiduously; but it may be doubted, whether such a mind as his was not more enriched by roaming at large in the fields of literature, than if it had been confined to any single spot. [continues]"
page
31
July 4, 2019
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4.02%
"After quitting Oxford due to penury, the future Dr J contrived an infatuation with a miss Porter before marrying her mother. Boswell remarks on their wedding day:
I have had from my illustrious friend the following curious account of their journey to church upon the nuptial morn:—“Sir, she had read the old romances, &had got into her head the fantastical notion that a woman of spirit should... [continues)"
page
54
I have had from my illustrious friend the following curious account of their journey to church upon the nuptial morn:—“Sir, she had read the old romances, &had got into her head the fantastical notion that a woman of spirit should... [continues)"
July 5, 2019
–
6.4%
"Whenever he was not engaged in conversation, such thoughts were sure to rush into his mind; and, for this reason, any company, any employment whatever, he preferred to being alone. The great business of his life (he said) was to escape from himself; this disposition he considered as the disease of his mind, which nothing cured but company."
page
86
July 7, 2019
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7.44%
"Players, ca.1744
I am afraid, however, that by associating with Savage, who was habituated to the dissipation and licentiousness of the town, Johnson, though his good principles remained steady, did not entirely preserve that conduct, for which, in days of greater simplicity, he was remarked by his friend Mr Hector; but was imperceptibly led into some indulgences which occasioned much distress to his virtuous mind"
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100
I am afraid, however, that by associating with Savage, who was habituated to the dissipation and licentiousness of the town, Johnson, though his good principles remained steady, did not entirely preserve that conduct, for which, in days of greater simplicity, he was remarked by his friend Mr Hector; but was imperceptibly led into some indulgences which occasioned much distress to his virtuous mind"
July 8, 2019
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9.97%
"The style of this work has been censured by some shallow criticks as involved and turgid, and abounding with antiquated and hard words. [...]
It must, indeed, be allowed, that the structure of his sentences is expanded, and often has somewhat of the inversion of Latin; and that he delighted to express familiar thoughts in philosophical language; being in this the reverse of Socrates... [continues]"
page
134
It must, indeed, be allowed, that the structure of his sentences is expanded, and often has somewhat of the inversion of Latin; and that he delighted to express familiar thoughts in philosophical language; being in this the reverse of Socrates... [continues]"
July 14, 2019
–
11.83%
"Lord Chesterfield: England needs Johnson's dictionary cos English needs to be terrorized into obedience by a dictator!
“It must be owned, that our language is, at present, in a state of anarchy... [continues (and continues!)]"
page
159
“It must be owned, that our language is, at present, in a state of anarchy... [continues (and continues!)]"
July 18, 2019
–
14.06%
"In July of this year [1755] he had formed some scheme of mental improvement, the particular purpose of which does not appear. But we find in his “Prayers and Meditations,” p. 25, a prayer entitled, “On the Study of Philosophy, as an instrument of living;” and after it follows a note, “This study was not pursued.”"
page
189
July 19, 2019
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15.33%
"Pity t'is, but t'is true that the heat wave is but a dagger of the mind, friends:
In No. 11 [of The Idler] he treats with the utmost contempt the opinion that our mental faculties depend, in some degree, upon the weather; ... of which he himself could not but be sensible, as the effects of weather upon him were very visible. [continues]"
page
206
In No. 11 [of The Idler] he treats with the utmost contempt the opinion that our mental faculties depend, in some degree, upon the weather; ... of which he himself could not but be sensible, as the effects of weather upon him were very visible. [continues]"
July 22, 2019
–
19.12%
"Mallet’s tragedy of “Elvira” [about which another] said, “We have hardly a right to abuse this tragedy; for bad as it is, how vain should either of us be to write one not near so good.” J OHNSON: “Why no, Sir; this is not just reasoning. You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you cannot make a table. It is not your trade to make tables.”"
page
257
July 23, 2019
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20.76%
"Johnson:
"Hume, and other sceptical innovators, are vain men, and will gratify themselves at any expence. Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.""
page
279
"Hume, and other sceptical innovators, are vain men, and will gratify themselves at any expence. Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.""
August 11, 2019
–
27.9%
"I asked, "If, Sir, you were shut up in a castle, and a newborn child with you, what would you do?"
JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I should not much like my company."
BOSWELL. "But would you take the trouble of rearing it?"
He seemed, as may well be supposed, unwilling to persue the subject, but upon my persevering in my question, replied, "Why, yes, Sir, I would; but I must have all conveniences.""
page
375
JOHNSON. "Why, Sir, I should not much like my company."
BOSWELL. "But would you take the trouble of rearing it?"
He seemed, as may well be supposed, unwilling to persue the subject, but upon my persevering in my question, replied, "Why, yes, Sir, I would; but I must have all conveniences.""
August 12, 2019
–
29.54%
"He said few people had intellectual resources sufficient to forego the pleasures of wine. They could not otherwise contrive how to fill the interval between dinner & supper.
Where a great proportion of the people (said he,) are suffered to languish in helpless misery, that country must be ill policed, &wretchedly governed: a decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
He was 50% right..."
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397
Where a great proportion of the people (said he,) are suffered to languish in helpless misery, that country must be ill policed, &wretchedly governed: a decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
He was 50% right..."
August 14, 2019
–
31.4%
"We talked of the strange custom of swearing in conversation. The General said, that all barbarous nations swore from a certain violence of temper, that could not be confined to earth, but was always reaching at the powers above. He said, too, that there was greater variety of swearing, in proportion as there was a greater variety of religious ceremonies."
page
422
August 14, 2019
–
32.22%
"“The charge is, that [the teacher] has used immoderate and cruel correction. Correction, in itself, is not cruel; children, being not reasonable, can be governed only by fear. To impress this fear, is therefore one of the first duties of those who have the care of children. [...] No severity is cruel which obstinacy makes necessary; for the greatest cruelty would be, to desist [...continues]"
page
433
August 15, 2019
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32.74%
"J. “I am very unwilling to read the manuscripts of authors, &give them my opinion. If the authours who apply to me have money, I bid them boldly print without a name; if they have written in order to get money, I tell them to go to the booksellers &make the best bargain they can.”
B. “But, Sir, if a bookseller should bring you a manuscript to look at?”
J. “Why, Sir, I would desire the bookseller to take it away”"
page
440
B. “But, Sir, if a bookseller should bring you a manuscript to look at?”
J. “Why, Sir, I would desire the bookseller to take it away”"
August 16, 2019
–
34.38%
"Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it.
JOHNSON . “I have looked into it.”
“What (said Elphinston,) have you not read it through?”
Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, “No, Sir; do you read books through?”"
page
462
JOHNSON . “I have looked into it.”
“What (said Elphinston,) have you not read it through?”
Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, “No, Sir; do you read books through?”"
August 22, 2019
–
39.14%
"At the Lit Club:
...we talked of his “Journey to the Western Islands,” and of his coming away, “willing to believe the second sight,” which seemed to excite some ridicule. I was then so impressed with the truth of many of the stories of which I had been told, that I avowed my conviction, saying, “He is only willing to believe: I do believe. The evidence is enough for me, though not for[continues]"
page
526
...we talked of his “Journey to the Western Islands,” and of his coming away, “willing to believe the second sight,” which seemed to excite some ridicule. I was then so impressed with the truth of many of the stories of which I had been told, that I avowed my conviction, saying, “He is only willing to believe: I do believe. The evidence is enough for me, though not for[continues]"
August 26, 2019
–
43.23%
"When Johnson was in France, he was generally very resolute in speaking Latin.
As one does."
page
581
As one does."
August 29, 2019
–
43.6%
"Literally every letter from Johnson to Boswell ends with...
...I wish you, my dearest friend, and your haughty lady (for I know she does not love me)...all happiness"
page
586
...I wish you, my dearest friend, and your haughty lady (for I know she does not love me)...all happiness"
August 29, 2019
–
43.82%
"Call me a Red Tory, but there's something in Johnson's affirming of the "Right to Entail" --landowners restricting subsequent generations from putting land into the emerging Market economy. Could we not, in some alternate universe, prevent the climate catastrophe by resorting to such radical ancien regime-ism, impose a nice "Entail" on the wills to landowners' estates, and plant trees where the cows now graze?!"
page
589
August 30, 2019
–
45.54%
"“A man who has been drinking wine at all freely, should never go into a new company. With those who have partaken of wine with him, he may be pretty well in unison; but he will probably be offensive, or appear ridiculous to other people"
I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses [of Baretti's]. He joined with me, and said, “Nothing odd will do long. ‘Tristram Shandy’ did not last”"
page
612
I censured some ludicrous fantastick dialogues between two coach horses [of Baretti's]. He joined with me, and said, “Nothing odd will do long. ‘Tristram Shandy’ did not last”"
August 31, 2019
–
45.68%
"He spoke slightingly of Dyer’s “ Fleece.”—“The subject, Sir, cannot be made poetical. How can a man write poetically of serges and druggets! Yet you will hear many people talk to you gravely of that excellent poem, THE FLEECE .” ...“What could he make of a sugar-cane? One might as well write the Tarsley-bed, a Poem;’ or ‘The Cabbage-garden, a Poem.’
[Cont'd, cos he does go on, of course...]"
page
614
[Cont'd, cos he does go on, of course...]"
September 4, 2019
–
52.98%
"Bos to Joh:
“Without doubt you have read what is called ‘The Life of David Hume,’ written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery? My friend Mr. Anderson, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow...paid me a visit lately; and after we had talked with indignation and contempt of the poisonous productions with which this age is infested, he said..."
page
712
“Without doubt you have read what is called ‘The Life of David Hume,’ written by himself, with the letter from Dr. Adam Smith subjoined to it. Is not this an age of daring effrontery? My friend Mr. Anderson, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow...paid me a visit lately; and after we had talked with indignation and contempt of the poisonous productions with which this age is infested, he said..."
September 6, 2019
–
55.28%
"From a non-conformist physician's published diaries:
“Tenth month, 1753. “23. Indulgence in bed an hour too long.
“Twelfth month, 17. An hypochondriack obnubilation from wind and indigestion.
“Ninth month, 28. An over-dose of whisky.
“29. A dull, cross, cholerick day.
“First month, 1757—22. A little swinish at dinner and repast.
“31. Dogged on provocation.
“Second month, 5. Very dogged or snappish. [cont'd]"
page
743
“Tenth month, 1753. “23. Indulgence in bed an hour too long.
“Twelfth month, 17. An hypochondriack obnubilation from wind and indigestion.
“Ninth month, 28. An over-dose of whisky.
“29. A dull, cross, cholerick day.
“First month, 1757—22. A little swinish at dinner and repast.
“31. Dogged on provocation.
“Second month, 5. Very dogged or snappish. [cont'd]"
September 6, 2019
–
57.07%
"Dr. Johnson advised me to-day to have as many books about me as I could; that I might read upon any subject upon which I had a desire for instruction at the time. “What you read then , (said he,) you will remember; but if you have not a book immediately ready, and the subject moulds in your mind, it is a chance if you have again a desire to study it.” [continues]"
page
767
September 10, 2019
–
60.04%
"I remember [Club member] Chamier after talking with [Oliver Goldsmith] some time, said, ‘Well, I do believe he wrote this poem himself: and, let me tell you, that is believing a great deal.’ [continues]"
page
807
September 17, 2019
–
63.02%
"In heaven there's the most amazing book store...
BOSWELL . “True, Sir; we may carry our books in our heads; but still there is something painful in the thought of leaving for ever what has given us pleasure. I remember, many years ago, when my imagination was warm, and I happened to be in a melancholy mood, it distressed me to think of going into a state of being in which Shakespeare’s poetry did not exist..."
page
847
BOSWELL . “True, Sir; we may carry our books in our heads; but still there is something painful in the thought of leaving for ever what has given us pleasure. I remember, many years ago, when my imagination was warm, and I happened to be in a melancholy mood, it distressed me to think of going into a state of being in which Shakespeare’s poetry did not exist..."
September 19, 2019
–
66.74%
" I objected also to what appears an anticlimax of praise [of the actor Garrick, whose death] diminished the publick stock of harmless pleasure!”—“Is not harmless pleasure very tame?”
JOHNSON. “Nay, Sir, harmless pleasure is the highest praise. [continues]"
page
897
JOHNSON. “Nay, Sir, harmless pleasure is the highest praise. [continues]"
October 2, 2019
–
69.35%
"[...] in the labour of composition, do not burden your mind with too much at once; do not exact from yourself at one effort of excogitation, propriety of thought and elegance of expression. Invent first, and then embellish. The production of something, where nothing was before, is an act of greater energy than the expansion or decoration of the thing produced."
page
932
October 8, 2019
–
73.88%
"I mentioned his scale of liquors:— claret for boys,—port for men,—brandy for heroes.
“Then (said Mr. Burke) let me have claret: I love to be a boy; to have the careless gaiety of boyish days.”
JOHNSON. “I should drink claret too, if it would give me that; but it does not: it neither makes boys men, nor men boys. You’ll be drowned by it, before it has any effect upon you.”"
page
993
“Then (said Mr. Burke) let me have claret: I love to be a boy; to have the careless gaiety of boyish days.”
JOHNSON. “I should drink claret too, if it would give me that; but it does not: it neither makes boys men, nor men boys. You’ll be drowned by it, before it has any effect upon you.”"
October 11, 2019
–
75.3%
"[The Countess of Corke] insisted that some of Sterne’s writings were very pathetick. Johnson bluntly denied it. “I am sure (said she) they have affected me.”—“Why, (said Johnson, smiling, &rolling himself about,) that is, because, dearest, you’re a dunce.” When she sometimes afterwards mentioned this to him, he said with equal truth and politeness; “Madam, if I had thought so, I certainly should not have said it.”"
page
1012
October 13, 2019
–
75.52%
"Dryden on vanity/publishing:
“Men of pleasant conversation (at least esteemed so) &endued with a trifling kind of fancy...are ambitious to distinguish themselves from the herd of gentlemen, by their poetry: & is not this a wretched affectation, not to be contented with what fortune has done for them, &sit down quietly with their estates, but they must call their wits in question, & needlessly expose their [cont'd]"
page
1015
“Men of pleasant conversation (at least esteemed so) &endued with a trifling kind of fancy...are ambitious to distinguish themselves from the herd of gentlemen, by their poetry: & is not this a wretched affectation, not to be contented with what fortune has done for them, &sit down quietly with their estates, but they must call their wits in question, & needlessly expose their [cont'd]"
October 14, 2019
–
79.61%
"Though a stern true-born Englishman, and fully prejudiced against all other nations, he had discernment enough to see, and candour enough to censure, the cold reserve too common among Englishmen towards strangers:
[emphasis Boswell's, continues:]"
page
1070
[emphasis Boswell's, continues:]"
October 16, 2019
–
88.54%
"Not the summer of 2019, exactly, but we take his meaning:
Is not this strange weather? Winter absorbed the spring, and now autumn is come before we have had summer. But let not our kindness for each other imitate the inconstancy of the seasons.”"
page
1190
Is not this strange weather? Winter absorbed the spring, and now autumn is come before we have had summer. But let not our kindness for each other imitate the inconstancy of the seasons.”"
October 16, 2019
–
90.25%
"A Mr Colman, attempting to travesty the Johnsonian style, makes
Proposals for a Glossary or Vocabulary of the Vulgar Tongue: intended as a Supplement to a larger DICTIONARY” [...] thrown together in a vague and desultory manner, not even adhering to alphabetical concatenation.
Footnote:
“HIGLEDY PIGGLEDY—Conglomeration and confusion.
“HODGE-PODGE—A culinary mixture of heterogeneous ingredients; [cont'd]"
page
1213
Proposals for a Glossary or Vocabulary of the Vulgar Tongue: intended as a Supplement to a larger DICTIONARY” [...] thrown together in a vague and desultory manner, not even adhering to alphabetical concatenation.
Footnote:
“HIGLEDY PIGGLEDY—Conglomeration and confusion.
“HODGE-PODGE—A culinary mixture of heterogeneous ingredients; [cont'd]"
October 17, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)
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message 1:
by
Gavin
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 18, 2019 07:43AM
One of my favorites.
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Definitely! Have you read Rasselas or Lives of the Poets? I want to, but this 18C tour of mine expires on or about Dec31st!
Looking through your updates, WD, I came on this: Nothing odd will do long. ‘Tristram Shandy’ did not last and I laughed.Then further down, I came on his quip to the Countess of Corke, and I laughed again. It seems I can be with him and against him at the same time!
Fionnuala wrote: "Looking through your updates, WD, I came on this: Nothing odd will do long. ‘Tristram Shandy’ did not last and I laughed.Then further down, I came on his quip to the Countess of Corke, and I laughed again. It seems I can be with him and against him at the same time!i>
Oh yes! He had not much to say about Fielding and capital H Hated Swift, BUT! He does contain multitudes... What he sez of London applies to hissef:
“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.
With this review, sir, the goader has become the goadee...
W.D. wrote: "Definitely! Have you read Rasselas or Lives of the Poets? I want to, but this 18C tour of mine expires on or about Dec31st!"Rasselas is excellent. My post-grad professor told a story of being in London talking with friends about Rasselas, and a drunk overhearing them called out "Rasselas? You mean the Prince of Abyssinia?" Hilarious.
Gavin wrote: "a drunk overhearing them called out "Rasselas? You mean the Prince of Abyssinia?" "I dream of a world where drunks (or literally ANYBODY) overhears my booktalk and decides to comment...
ATJG wrote: "With this review, sir, the goader has become the goadee..."Indeed, sirrah! Git along l'il doggie!
W.D. wrote: "... this 18C tour of mine expires on or about Dec31st!"
Liar and slave!
Alas, old me, your OCD kinda kicked in and committed you to going back and piecemeal, inchmeal, year-by-yearing this cursed, this blessed century...
