内容简介
Theothergreatbookbythemanwhowrotethedictionary:ThisisDr.Johnson'sbeautiful,engaging,andultimatelyinspiringstoryofaroyalbrotherandsisterwhoescapethecastleand,travellingindisguise,searchforawaytofeelmoreusefultosociety.Itleadstoayears-longadventureamongstpoorpeopleandrichmen,greatintellectualsandmerchants,holymenandruthlesswarriors.Itisaneye-openingexperiencethatshakesthesiblingstotheircoreandultimatelyturnsintothemostsublimelywiseandmovingworksthatJohnsoneverwrote,nottomentionamasterpieceofEnglishliterature.
作者简介
SamuelJohnsonwasbornin1709abovehisfather'sbookshopinLichfield,England.Hewasasicklychild,scarredbysmallpox,withfacialandvocaltics,likelysymptomsofTouretteSyndrome.Butheprovedabrilliantstudent,attendingOxforduntilalackoffundsforcedhisdeparture.(Numeroushonorarydegreeswouldlaterjustifyhisfamoussobriquet"Dr."Johnson.)Attwenty-fivehemarriedElizabeth"Tetty"Potter,awell-offwidowtwenty-oneyearshissenior.ShefundedaschoolJohnsonstarted,butlostmuchofherwealthwhentheschoolfailed.Wrackedbyguilt,JohnsonwalkedtoLondonand,livingvirtuallyonthestreet,beganwritingreviews,essaysandnewsformagazines,notablyTheIdlerandTheRambler.In1744,hepublishedhismasterpiece,LifeOfSavage,aninnovativewarts-and-allbiographyofhisfriend,writerRichardSavage.Johnsonwouldwriteseveralmore"lives,"culminatinginhisacclaimedthree-volumeLivesofThePoets.In1746agroupofpublishersaskedJohnsontocompileanauthoritativeEnglishdictionary.Hecompletedthemassiveundertakingin1755,andADictionaryoftheEnglishLanguagewouldsetthestandardforthenext150years.Uponhisdeathin1784hewasburiedinWestminsterAbbey.Yethisfameonlyrosewhen,in1791,hisfriendJamesBoswellpublishedbecamethemostfamous"life"ofthemall:LifeofSamuelJohnson.,,
