The Life of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D.: Together With a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., originally published by James Boswell in 1791, stands as a cornerstone of English biography, celebrated for its unprecedented depth and intimacy. The work chronicles the life of the renowned lexicographer and critic, capturing his conversations, mannerisms, and intellectual vigor through years of meticulous observation. The inclusion of the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides provides an essential companion piece, documenting the 1773 journey through Scotland that cemented the bond between Boswell and Johnson.

The specific edition cited here is a modern reissue associated with Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, a prolific 19th-century biographer and literary historian known for his extensive editing and commentary on Boswell’s works. Fitzgerald’s approach was deeply influenced by a Victorian desire to contextualize and clarify the complexities of the 18th-century original for later readers. While the original work was lauded by contemporaries like Edmund Burke for its masterful characterization, Fitzgerald's legacy remains defined by his dedication to ensuring this seminal text remained accessible to subsequent generations of scholars.