The enduring work of biography James Boswell’s Life of Johnson, 1791-2020 edited by Greg Clingham

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Clingham, Greg, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Boswell, James, 1740-1795. Life of Samuel Johnson.

Boswell, James.

Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.

Johnson, Samuel.

Authors, English--Biography--History and criticism.

Authors, English.

Biography as a literary form.

biography (general genre).

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Newark University of Delaware Press [2026]

Summary:

"The Enduring Work of Biography seeks to revitalize appreciation of Boswell’s great biography for a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers. Engaging accessibly and informatively with biographical, historical, critical, and textual matters and drawing on the Yale Edition of the Private Papers of James Boswell, Enduring Work discusses Boswell’s collaboration with others (both alive and dead) in researching, writing, revising, proofing, publishing, and promoting his biography of Johnson. Central to Boswell’s concept of life writing is memory, and Enduring Work highlights both its dynamic and collaborative force in the Life of Johnson. This collection is book-ended by an introduction that considers the critical reception of the Life of Johnson and an epilogue that suggests its continuing critical insight and relevance. A closing chapter and two appendixes survey the history of the Life of Johnson as a best-selling book for over two centuries, an extraordinary collaboration between readers and publishers and between Boswell and Johnson themselves that is still evolving"-- De Gruyter Brill

Contents:

Introduction : Enduring Boswell / Greg Clingham

Authenticity and coauthorship in Boswell's life-writing / Thomas F. Bonnell

Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo and Boswell's Life of Johnson / Richard B. Sher

Gist and jest : Boswell's memory and Johnson's conversation revisited / Jacob Sider Jost

Speech and prayer in Boswell's Life of Johnson / Charlotte Roberts

On quotation and the consolations of biography / Gordon Turnbull

Travel writing and Boswell's biographical acts of union / Shirley F. Tung

Editions and abridgments of Boswell's Life of Johnson : A short history / Paul Tankard

Epilogue : Loving Boswell / Greg Clingham

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (De Gruyter Brill, viewed September 21, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Enduring work of biography

ISBN:

9781644534335

1644534339

OCLC:

1610983395

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license