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The Johnson Circle

A Group Portrait

Lyle Larsen

Samuel Johnson, from early boyhood, lived with the knowledge that his homely face, large and ungainly body, loud voice, and odd mannerisms put people off. He later confessed that he had never made an effort to please others until past thirty, “considering the matter as hopeless.” Yet he managed to gather about him as friends, especially during the last quarter of his life, some of the most fascinating and accomplished people of the day. These friendships were not always smooth, and some did not last, but Johnson valued the individuals nonetheless. Actor, painter, playwright, novelist, Greek scholar, miscellaneous writer, biographer, leading bluestocking, wealthy man-of-fashion: they represented a wide range of talents and personalities. Johnson brought them together as a group, and all testified that in knowing him they became far better persons than they otherwise would have been.

This book focuses on ten key figures, aside from Johnson himself, of the so-called Johnson circle. It explores their characters, their contributions to society, their relationships with one another, and their indebtedness to Samuel Johnson.

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 348 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-68393-115-7 • Hardback • October 2017 • $142.00 • (£109.00)

978-1-68393-117-1 • Paperback • September 2019 • $53.99 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, History / Europe / Great Britain / General, Literary Criticism / Modern / 18th Century

The Johnson Circle

A Group Portrait

Hardback

Paperback

Summary

Samuel Johnson, from early boyhood, lived with the knowledge that his homely face, large and ungainly body, loud voice, and odd mannerisms put people off. He later confessed that he had never made an effort to please others until past thirty, “considering the matter as hopeless.” Yet he managed to gather about him as friends, especially during the last quarter of his life, some of the most fascinating and accomplished people of the day. These friendships were not always smooth, and some did not last, but Johnson valued the individuals nonetheless. Actor, painter, playwright, novelist, Greek scholar, miscellaneous writer, biographer, leading bluestocking, wealthy man-of-fashion: they represented a wide range of talents and personalities. Johnson brought them together as a group, and all testified that in knowing him they became far better persons than they otherwise would have been.

This book focuses on ten key figures, aside from Johnson himself, of the so-called Johnson circle. It explores their characters, their contributions to society, their relationships with one another, and their indebtedness to Samuel Johnson.

Details

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 348 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-68393-115-7 • Hardback • October 2017 • $142.00 • (£109.00)

978-1-68393-117-1 • Paperback • September 2019 • $53.99 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, History / Europe / Great Britain / General, Literary Criticism / Modern / 18th Century

Author

Lyle Larsen is professor emeritus of English at Santa Monica College.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface
Principal Figures of the Johnson Circle
1. His Trade was Wisdom
2. The Great Field of Genius and Exertion
3. Deadman’s Place
4. Blunders, Ridicule, and a Fine Malignity
5. Incident in the Haymarket
6. Between Comedy and Tragedy
7. Retaliation
8. Domestic Issues
9. A Variety of Private Cases
10. Like Embroidery upon Gauze
11. The Flight of Time
12. A Wicked, False, Ungrateful Little Vixen
13. Torn Friendships
14. A Pattern of Resignation
Appendix: Bennet Langton’s Children
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Reviews

In this accessible book, Larsen (Santa Monica College) offers a basic introduction to Samuel Johnson’s friendships with nine “principal” members of what has become known as the "Johnson circle": Boswell, Goldsmith, Henry and Hester Thrale, Garrick, Reynolds, Langton, Beauclerk, and Frances Burney.... [G]eneral readers coming to the topic for the first time will be informed and entertained by a lively and congenial narrative of one of the most fascinating collections of people in literary history. Summing Up: Recommended...Lower- and upper-level undergraduates; general readers.
— Choice Reviews

The Johnson Circle

A Group Portrait

Lyle Larsen

The Johnson Circle

A Group Portrait

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