. One year course in English and American literature; an introduction to the chief authors in English and American literature, with reading lists and references for further study. o the famous Life, written by his friend Bos-well. James Boswell was John-sons most ardent admirer; hefollowed him about, noting downhis sayings and collecting anec-dotes about him, for twentyyears. In his book we see John-son as he was in life: the hugeform, in the snuff-colored coatwith metal buttons, his wigslightly singed where he benttoo far over the candle; welearn how many cups of tea hedrank, and his curious
. One year course in English and American literature; an introduction to the chief authors in English and American literature, with reading lists and references for further study. o the famous Life, written by his friend Bos-well. James Boswell was John-sons most ardent admirer; hefollowed him about, noting downhis sayings and collecting anec-dotes about him, for twentyyears. In his book we see John-son as he was in life: the hugeform, in the snuff-colored coatwith metal buttons, his wigslightly singed where he benttoo far over the candle; welearn how many cups of tea hedrank, and his curious habit oftreasuring up bits of lemon peel;we are admitted to his conver-sations with his friends: Gar-rick the actor, Sir JoshuaReynolds the painter, Burke theorator, and Goldsmith the writer;we have Johnsons report of hisinterview with the King, and hisstatement of why he thrasheda bookseller. It is a record as detailed as Pepyss Diary,and as Dr. Johnson was a far greater man than Pepys, theresult is a far greater book. It is the greatest biographyin English literature. Closely associated with Johnson is Oliver Goldsmith(1728-1774). Goldsmith was an Irishman, with an Irish. Ju^fyty^ 53 The age of johnson talent for blundering, an Irish heart for friendship, and anIrish wit that helped him through the trials of a life spentas a booksellers drudge. He was educated at TrinityCollege, Dublin, and later went abroad to study wandered about the continent for a time ; then, return-ing to England, tried to practice as a physician. Failing inthis and other makeshifts, he finally found work with thebooksellers. He wrote a series of periodical essays, after-wards reprinted as The Citizenof the World. Two poems, TheTraveller and The Deserted Vil-lage, gave him considerable repu-tation. His best-known work,The Vicar of Wakefield, has acurious history. Dr. Johnsonreceived a message from Gold-smith asking him to come inhaste. Going to Goldsmithslodging, he found him held aprisoner
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectenglishliterature
