In Mind of Johnson: A Study of Johnson the Rambler - Hardcover

Davis, Philip Maurice

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0820310549 ISBN 13: 9780820310541

Publisher: Univ of Georgia Pr, 1989

Synopsis

This original and imaginative portrait of Dr. Johnson - the man and the writer - gets behind his public face and uncovers the human struggle out of which Johnson's moral view of life emerged. The author presents a challenging reading of the Rambler essays and Rasselas, unveiling the presence in these works of Johnson's inner life. Convincing and persuasive, it is an approach which flies in the face of established critical fashions and preconceptions and which reveals Johnson in a completely new light.

About this title

Review

"Davis, directing his book at 'the serious common reader, ' turns, as one middle-aged wisdom-seeker to another, to Johnson for 'practical advice about how to live.' . . . [Davis] can be seen as following the Rambler's injunction that we ought to be reading in order to become better and wiser, to benefit our hearts and actions, as well as our minds."--Isobel Grundy, "Age of Johnson"

"The book looks at various aspects of Johnson's thought and personality and meditates upon their complexity and abiding wisdom. . . . One particularly nice touch is Davis' tendency to compare Johnson with writers of other periods, such as Tolstoy, Bellow, and even Malamud. Generally, our tendency is to see Johnson in a far narrower context than his own range, depth, and importance can justify."--Richard B. Schwartz, "Albion"

"A laudable effort . . . Davis's study offers a refreshing and affectionate look at Johnson as a presence."--"Choice"

The book looks at various aspects of Johnson's thought and personality and meditates upon their complexity and abiding wisdom. . . . One particularly nice touch is Davis' tendency to compare Johnson with writers of other periods, such as Tolstoy, Bellow, and even Malamud. Generally, our tendency is to see Johnson in a far narrower context than his own range, depth, and importance can justify.--Richard B. Schwartz ""Albion" "

A laudable effort . . . Davis's study offers a refreshing and affectionate look at Johnson as a presence.--"Choice"

Davis, directing his book at 'the serious common reader, ' turns, as one middle-aged wisdom-seeker to another, to Johnson for 'practical advice about how to live.' . . . [Davis] can be seen as following the Rambler's injunction that we ought to be reading in order to become better and wiser, to benefit our hearts and actions, as well as our minds.--Isobel Grundy ""Age of Johnson" "

About the Author

Philip R. Davies is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield, UK.

Edition details

• Publisher: Univ of Georgia Pr
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0820310549
• ISBN 13: 9780820310541
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1