Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperPerennial (2006), Paperback, 432 pages
Description
James Boswell died a disappointed man, considered by his contemporaries to be a foolish failure. Yet today his life of Johnson is esteemed as the template for modern biography and Boswell himself is regarded as a formidable, if somewhat anti-heroic intellect in his own right. Sisman provides not only an account of Boswell's life but a creative investigation into how Boswell managed to be simultaneously so risible and outstanding and, by extension, an investigation into the nature of biographers and biography. Making use of Boswell's letters and journals only recently uncovered and unhindered by the constraints of academia, Sisman's book depicts Boswell and the 18th century world he lived in with clarity and frankness.
User reviews
LibraryThing member literarysarah
It is not necessary to have read Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson to appreciate Adam Sisman's book. He provides plenty of context and detail for readers who are less familiar with the literary and historical figures in eighteenth century England. In fact, though I read the Life of Johnson first, I
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would recommend doing it the other way round and starting with Sisman's narrative. Particularly interesting is the posterity section which charts the popularity and reputation of the Life (and its author) through the past two hundred years. Show Less
LibraryThing member moibibliomaniac
A perfect choice of a title by Adam Sisman!
In his Introductory Chapter of The Life of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell wrote:
"To write the Life of him who excelled all mankind in writing the lives of others, and who, whether we consider his extraordinary endowments or his various works, has been
I'm surprised that Boswell didn't spell the word "him" with a capital "H."
Indeed, In his dictionary, Samuel Johnson defines presumptuous as
1. Arrogant; confident; insolent;
2. Irreverent with respect to holy things
In his dictionary, Johnson defines the word Arduous as:
1. Lofty; hard to climb
2. Difficult
Boswell certainly had lofty expectations, especially since everyone else had already written their lives of Johnson. In his LOJ, Boswell shows some of Johnson's warts, but never enough to knock him off his pedestal. In his quasi-biography of Boswell, Sisman bares all, depicting Boswell at times as a drunken sot who may well have set the all-time record for contracting Gonorrhea. Sisman shows that Boswell made the task of writing Johnson's biography more difficult because of his drinking, and because of his desire to make a name for himself in other ventures, either as a lawyer or hopefully, as an appointed politician. But a brilliant writer Boswell was, and Sisman shows that as well, although Sisman credits Malone's editing with putting the icing on the cake. Malone had nothing to do with the second edition, and Sisman says that edition contains errors, which Malone corrected in the third edition after Boswell's death.
All in all, a good scholarly and pleasant read. Moi recommends.
In his Introductory Chapter of The Life of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell wrote:
"To write the Life of him who excelled all mankind in writing the lives of others, and who, whether we consider his extraordinary endowments or his various works, has been
Show More
equalled by few in any age, is an arduous, and may be reckoned in me a presumptuous task."I'm surprised that Boswell didn't spell the word "him" with a capital "H."
Indeed, In his dictionary, Samuel Johnson defines presumptuous as
1. Arrogant; confident; insolent;
2. Irreverent with respect to holy things
In his dictionary, Johnson defines the word Arduous as:
1. Lofty; hard to climb
2. Difficult
Boswell certainly had lofty expectations, especially since everyone else had already written their lives of Johnson. In his LOJ, Boswell shows some of Johnson's warts, but never enough to knock him off his pedestal. In his quasi-biography of Boswell, Sisman bares all, depicting Boswell at times as a drunken sot who may well have set the all-time record for contracting Gonorrhea. Sisman shows that Boswell made the task of writing Johnson's biography more difficult because of his drinking, and because of his desire to make a name for himself in other ventures, either as a lawyer or hopefully, as an appointed politician. But a brilliant writer Boswell was, and Sisman shows that as well, although Sisman credits Malone's editing with putting the icing on the cake. Malone had nothing to do with the second edition, and Sisman says that edition contains errors, which Malone corrected in the third edition after Boswell's death.
All in all, a good scholarly and pleasant read. Moi recommends.
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LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I picked up this book primarily out of an interest in the late 18th century and for that it was a valuable read. Better than some authors and historians, this book delivers an idea of the forces and complexities of 18th-century life, through the perspective of James Boswell, the author of the
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seminal biography The Life of Dr. Johnson. Had I been more familiar with Samuel Johnson or the biography previously, I likely would have gotten more out of this book. Still, I enjoyed learning about both Johnson and Boswell, their relationship, and Boswell's effort to produce the definitive biography of his mentor. Show Less
LibraryThing member kerns222
well written book that will not keep you up too late at night. You can put it down most anywhere. Interesting facts. Interesting lives. Interesting books, journals, letters, and 18th century life. And lots of Johnsonalia for those who want it.
Subjects
Awards
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — Biography — 2001)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Biography — 2001)
National Book Critics Circle Award (Finalist — Biography/Autobiography — 2001)
Language
Physical description
432 p.; 7.64 inches
ISBN
0007234295 / 9780007234295