Description
Essential writings on the English language-its history, structure, and cultural importance-by one of its most adroit practitioners
This volume of the Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson collects the writer's most important statements on the English language. It includes fully annotated editions of Johnson's main writings on the history, structure, and cultural importance of English, as well as his reflections on lexicography. These texts represent Johnson's thinking as he undertook and completed the major work of his life, the colossal Dictionary of the English Language.
By setting Johnson's writings on the English language in historical context, the editors provide the fullest possible account of their composition. Among the works presented in the volume are Johnson's Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language andthe Preface to the Dictionary,both of which are counted among his finest works of prose.
About the Author
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a poet, essayist, biographer, and editor. Gwin J. Kolb is Chester D. Tripp Professor Emeritus in Humanities, University of Chicago. Robert DeMaria, Jr., is Henry Noble MacCracken Professor of English at Vassar College.
Reviews
"Thanks . . . to the consummate and consummating editors of Johnson on the English Language: Gwin J. Kolb and Robert DeMaria, Jr. Their cooperation-with one another and with Johnson-is magnificent. Their erudition is immense and yet measured, deep and yet crystalline."-Christopher Ricks, New Criterion
"The latest superb volume of the Yale edition of [Johnson's] works."-Eric Ormsby, New York Sun
"Since these writings are never again likely to be critically edited, it is fortunate they fell in to such capable hands; two editors who, in an imperfect world, have reached a high level of perfection, and prepared a model edition likely to stand the test of time."-O. M. Brack, Jr., Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer
Book Information
ISBN 9780300106725
Author Samuel Johnson
Format Hardback
Page Count 560
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 862g
This volume of the Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson collects the writer's most important statements on the English language. It includes fully annotated editions of Johnson's main writings on the history, structure, and cultural importance of English, as well as his reflections on lexicography. These texts represent Johnson's thinking as he undertook and completed the major work of his life, the colossal Dictionary of the English Language.
By setting Johnson's writings on the English language in historical context, the editors provide the fullest possible account of their composition. Among the works presented in the volume are Johnson's Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language andthe Preface to the Dictionary,both of which are counted among his finest works of prose.
About the Author
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a poet, essayist, biographer, and editor. Gwin J. Kolb is Chester D. Tripp Professor Emeritus in Humanities, University of Chicago. Robert DeMaria, Jr., is Henry Noble MacCracken Professor of English at Vassar College.
Reviews
"Thanks . . . to the consummate and consummating editors of Johnson on the English Language: Gwin J. Kolb and Robert DeMaria, Jr. Their cooperation-with one another and with Johnson-is magnificent. Their erudition is immense and yet measured, deep and yet crystalline."-Christopher Ricks, New Criterion
"The latest superb volume of the Yale edition of [Johnson's] works."-Eric Ormsby, New York Sun
"Since these writings are never again likely to be critically edited, it is fortunate they fell in to such capable hands; two editors who, in an imperfect world, have reached a high level of perfection, and prepared a model edition likely to stand the test of time."-O. M. Brack, Jr., Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer
Book Information
ISBN 9780300106725
Author Samuel Johnson
Format Hardback
Page Count 560
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 862g
