I much liked Boswell's biography of Johnson, but still have trouble figuring out where he fits in the literary world. Other than his dictionary and all the essays, aphorisms and bon mots - I think he wrote quite a bit of other stuff, but don't know that it really took off. I signed out of the library a one-volume collection of selected "prose and poetry" by Johson - started working through it, decided not to keep after it. Probably gave up too soon, but it wasn't that interesting.I did work all the way through a short story - Rasselas - didn't find it all that compelling either. I think this is one of his better-known works. It reminded me of Voltaire's Candide; but I didn't like it as much.
Junior members of Abyssinian royalty are confined to a hidden valley from which it is impossible to escape - though all needs are met in the finest possible way. Rasselas becomes discontented, eventually escapes with his sister and their tutor (who had experience in the outside world). They go around trying to find happiness, or purpose - meet up with various folks, find out that it's a pretty complicated issue. Eventually they go back to Abyssinia - wiser, perhaps somewhat sadder as well.
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