Element contents
Making Boswell's Life of Johnson
An Author-Publisher and His Support Network
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2023
Summary
This Element throws new light on James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson by investigating its early publication history. Despite precarious psychological and financial circumstances and other limitations, Boswell was both author and publisher of the two-volume quarto edition that appeared in 1791. This study utilizes little-known documents to explore the details and implications of Boswell's risky undertaking. It argues that the success of the first edition was the result not only of Boswell's biographical genius but also of collaboration with a devoted support network, including the bookseller Charles Dilly, the printer Henry Baldwin and his employees, several newspaper and magazine editors, Boswell's 'Gang' (Edmond Malone, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and John Courtenay) and other members of The Club, and Sir William Forbes. Although the muddled second edition (1793) suffered from Boswell's increasing dysfunction in the years before his death in 1795, the resilient Boswellian network subsequently secured the book's exalted reputation.
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- Online ISBN: 9781009271431Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication: 24 August 2023
References
References
Accounts & Other Financial Papers. A 52: general financial statements. A 59–A 64: accounts & financial documents relating to the first two editions of the Life.
Letters to James Boswell & Others.
Journal: All references to Boswell’s journal are quoted from the original manuscripts, accessible online. Edited versions of the text can be found in the published trade edition of Boswell’s journal.
Letters Written by James Boswell.
Manuscripts. M 38: Boswelliana; M 145: Life Manuscript, Papers Apart; M 251–255: Boswell’s Register of Letters, Sent and Received, 1763–90.
Printed Matter & Other Non-Manuscript Material. P 100, 100.1, & 101: newspaper cuttings relating to the Life.
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