Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson was published in 1791 and is recognised as a landmark book in the genre of modern biography. The biography is based around Boswell’s friendship and interactions with Johnson, including dialogue and anecdote, supported by later research. In this course we examine the writing of the book, Boswell and Johnson’s friendship, and some highlights from the large biography.

DELIVERY MODE

• Online

SUGGESTED READING

• Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson

COURSE OUTLINE

• An outline of the life and career of Samuel Johnson
• Boswell’s first meeting and subsequent friendship with Johnson
• A study of Boswell’s style of writing, highlights from the book, and its value in reflecting the times of London and England in the 18th century

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Appreciate the key steps in the writing of The Life of Samuel Johnson.
2. Appreciate the importance of the biography in showing us life in 18th century England
3. Gain an understanding of Johnson’s life and achievements.