Samuel Johnson's Dictionary: Selections from the 1755 Work That Defined the English Language

Published in 2007 by Walker & Company, this selection serves as an accessible entry point into Samuel Johnson’s monumental 1755 'A Dictionary of the English Language.' Compiled by Jack Lynch, a scholar noted for his expertise in eighteenth-century literature, the volume was designed to distill the wit, philosophical breadth, and occasionally idiosyncratic definitions of the original two-volume folio into a reader-friendly format for the modern audience.

Lynch’s editorial approach emphasizes the personality and intellectual rigor Johnson brought to his lexicographical task. By selecting the most evocative and illustrative entries, the book highlights how Johnson’s work functioned not merely as a reference tool but as a collection of literary commentary. The volume has been well-received by academic and lay readers alike for its ability to preserve the historical charm of the Enlightenment-era English language while making its complexities navigable for contemporary researchers.