Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was an English writer, critic, and lexicographer. His 1765 edition of Shakespeare’s plays combined editorial scholarship with influential criticism.

William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet whose works include tragedies, comedies, and histories. Johnson edited Shakespeare’s plays and judged their literary achievement.
The Plays of William Shakespeare: The Plays of William Shakespeare is Johnson’s 1765 edition, with a preface, notes, and critical commentary. This edition made his judgments about Shakespeare available alongside the plays themselves.
James Boswell: James Boswell was a Scottish biographer whose Life of Johnson recounts Johnson’s conversation and daily life. Boswell’s biography became the main source for Johnson’s later public image.
Alexander Pope: Alexander Pope was an English poet and translator whose verse became a model of neoclassical style. Pope’s polished poetic standards contrast with Johnson’s emphasis on Shakespeare’s varied, lifelike language.
English lexicography: English lexicography is the practice of compiling and studying dictionaries of the English language. Johnson’s dictionary became a landmark in the history of English word definition and usage.
Shakespearean criticism: Shakespearean criticism is the interpretation and evaluation of Shakespeare’s works. Johnson’s edition helped establish criticism as a central part of Shakespeare scholarship.
Preface to Shakespeare: Preface to Shakespeare is Johnson’s critical essay introducing his 1765 edition of the plays. It states his case for Shakespeare’s enduring realism while discussing the plays’ flaws.
David Garrick: David Garrick was an English actor, theatre manager, and former pupil of Johnson. Their friendship connected Johnson to the London stage and Shakespearean performance.
Lewis Theobald: Lewis Theobald was an English Shakespeare editor and critic known for textual scholarship. Theobald’s editorial precision provided a precedent Johnson acknowledged while pursuing his own edition.
Literary biography: Literary biography examines writers’ lives in relation to their works and historical settings. Johnson’s Lives of the Poets helped establish a durable model of critical literary biography.

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