Few authors benefit from being set in their contemporary context more than Samuel Johnson. Samuel Johnson in Context is a guide to his world, offering readers a comprehensive account of eighteenth-century life and culture as it relates to his work. Short, lively and eminently readable chapters illuminate not only Johnson's own life, writings and career, but the literary, critical, journalistic, social, political, scientific, artistic, medical and financial contexts in which his works came into being. Written by leading experts in Johnson and in eighteenth-century studies, these chapters offer both depth and range of information and suggestions for further study and research. Richly illustrated, with a chronology of Johnson's life and works and an extensive bibliography, this book is a major new work of reference on eighteenth-century culture and the age of Johnson.
Preface; Chronology Jack Lynch; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Life Lisa Berglund; 2. Publication history O. M. Brack, Jr; 3. Correspondence Freya Johnston; Part II. Critical Fortunes: 4. Editions Adam Rounce; 5. Translations John Stone; 6. Critical reception to 1900 Katherine Turner; 7. Critical reception since 1900 Greg Clingham; 8. Representations Robert Folkenflik; 9. Reputation Helen Deutsch; Part III. Contexts: 10. America Thomas M. Curley; 11. Anglicanism Melvyn New; 12. Anthropology Jonathan Lamb; 13. Authorship Dustin Griffin; 14. Biography H. J. Jackson; 15. Book trade Michael F. Suarez, SJ; 16. Clubs Peter Clark; 17. Conversation Pat Rogers; 18. Dictionaries Lynda Mugglestone; 19. Domestic life Jaclyn Geller; 20. Education Catherine Dille; 21. Empire Sharon Harrow; 22. Essays Paul Tankard; 23. Fiction John Richetti; 24. History Robert DeMaria, Jr; 25. Journalism Lee Morrissey; 26. Law J. T. Scanlan; 27. Literary criticism Philip Smallwood; 28. London Cynthia Wall; 29. Medicine T. Jock Murray; 30. Mental health Allan Ingram; 31. Money D'Maris Coffman; 32. Nationalism Clement Hawes; 33. Philosophy Fred Parker; 34. Poetry David Venturo; 35. Politics Steven Scherwatzky; 36. Scholarship Barry Baldwin; 37. Science and technology Dahlia Porter; 38. Scotland Murray Pittock; 39. Sermons Jennifer Ellis Snead; 40. Shakespeare Fiona Ritchie; 41. Slavery and abolition Brycchan Carey; 42. Social hierarchy Nicholas Hudson; 43. Theater Nora Nachumi; 44. Travel Paula McDowell; 45. Visual arts Martin Postle; 46. War John Richardson; 47. Women writers John Wiltshire; Further reading; Index.
