James Boswell's Life of Johnson: An Edition of the Original Manuscript, Volume 1: 1709-1765 (Yale Editions of the Private Papers Jame) [Hardcover]

James Boswell (Author), Professor Marshall Waingrow (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 1995 | Series: Yale Editions of the Private Papers Jame

The original manuscript of James Boswell`s Life of Johnson-a composite of his basic draft and innumerable revisions-served as printer`s copy despite its maze-like appearance. This book is the first of four volumes to be devoted to that original manuscript, an edition that will make this complex document accessible for the first time. The specially designed text, supplemented by textual and explanatory notes, enables the reader to trace all the substantive changes Boswell made in the process of composition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1st ed edition (April 26, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300060602
• ISBN-13: 978-0300060607
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,680,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Scholarly Edition, May 13, 1999

By 

Simon James (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: James Boswell's Life of Johnson: An Edition of the Original Manuscript, Volume 1: 1709-1765 (Yale Editions of the Private Papers Jame) (Hardcover)

Professor Waingrow's volume (1 of a projected 4) of the Original Manuscript of James Boswell's Life of Johnson is an invaluable work of scholarship which should stimulate Boswellian and Johnsonian studies for generations to come.

The reader is able to trace, though Waingrow's thorough and careful annotations, changes made to the text by Boswell throughout all stages of composition. Much is explained through detailed footnotes and there is a full introduction which explains Prof. Waingrow's own method of annotation and includes some speculation concerning the interest of the manuscript edition for scholars.

The work is designed as a companion to the Hill-Powell edition of the Life of Johnson; each page is provided with the corresponding number in their edition.

It thus holds much for those interested in the study of Boswell's methodology, but all Johnsonian scholars and those interested in the tradition of biographical writing will benefit from this work.

1 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Most overrated biography ever, April 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: James Boswell's Life of Johnson: An Edition of the Original Manuscript, Volume 1: 1709-1765 (Yale Editions of the Private Papers Jame) (Hardcover)

James Boswell wrote what is considered by many to be the greatest biography ever written. He does do an excellent job of describing to the reader what kind of person Samuel Johnson was, as he makes an artfully vivid portrait of his subject. However, it is unfortunately better art than history. It is factually inaccurate, painfully repetitive, and leaves the reader with little understanding of why Samuel Johnson was an important man at all.