The Life of Samuel Johnson (James Boswell, 1791)

It doesn't require much reading to run into references to Dr. Johnson and his biographer, Boswell.  In fact, Boswell became synonymous with biography in a way - you see references that so-and-so needed a Boswell.  This, even though how many people these days know anything about Dr. Johnson himself?  I certainly didn't.

There's a lot going on in this work, and I have trouble sorting it out.  It also took a long time to work through.  1006 dense pages; no breaks even for chapter headings; I think it was worth the time.

Johnson basically was of humble birth and had no money or standing.  I think you could describe him as a big lug.  Awkward physically.  He read a ton as a youth (and thereafter) and had a phenomenal memory; also must have had a super-sharp intellect in that he could carry around everything he knew, sort it effectively, and pull it up on command.  This was combined with the skill that distinguished him above all else:  the ability to communicate in a pithy, forceful, memorable style (whether in writing or in conversation).  He came to London as a poor man and wrote for money - short works.  Eventually was approved to write a famous Dictionary of the English language - and this was where he made his mark.  This led to fame, and a government pension of 300 pounds per year - not much money at all, but enough for Johnson.

Boswell was a Scottish gentleman who met Johnson when Johnson already was in his early 50s; at least 20 years younger than Johnson; seemed to hero-worship the now-famous Johnson; spent a great deal of time in London with Johnson; occasionally traveled with him; took up the idea of being his biographer and started to record conversational nuggets on an amazingly regular basis. 

Johnson's fame and his style made him a target.  He could be brusque and rude; he didn't know how to participate in a conversation involving more than one other person without turning it into some kind of competition.  He would pretty much take the opposite side of any argument just for the sake of the competition. 

It's fascinating to hear the discussions - by this leading mid and late-18th century figure - of the leading lights of those days.  The folks in London were discussing and/or interacting with Kant, Rousseau, Hume (the infidel), Frederick the Great; Edmund Burke, Adam Smith, King George III; he had a tiff with Voltaire; the lists goes on and on.  Johnson was a stickler for tradition - the monarchy, Tory party, and high-church Anglicanism; he thought the American rebels were in the wrong.  They discussed so many of the same issues that remain in the news to this day.  It's a great window into the 18th-century discussions.

I don't know where else such a window exists.  Boswell followed Johnson around in real time for decades - most biographers have to assemble information after the fact.  (Though they didn't spend all that much time together - gaps are filled in, somewhat, via copies of correspondence or other sources.)

And would Johnson have remained famous with Boswell?  Probably not.  His short works, his Dictionary, above all his sayings - these are very, very fine things.  But not enough to place him among the literary greats (as I understand it).

Books with Johnson sayings still sell well to this day - one can see why so many tried to imitate his style - incredibly effective language.

One quote that has stood up well to this day:  "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."