Originally published in 1921 as part of the Cambridge Plain Texts series, this volume contains fifteen papers by Samuel Johnson taken from The Idler, a series of 103 essays largely written by Johnson and published in London weekly The Universal Chronicle between 1758 and 1760. A short editorial introduction is also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the works of Johnson.
Contents
Note S. C. Roberts; 1. Proposal for a female army; 2. Scheme for news-writers; 3. Whirler's character; 4. Corruption of news-writers; 5. Disguises of ideleness. Sober's character; 6. Journal of a fellow of a college; 7. Punch and conversation compared; 8. Auction-hunter described and ridiculed; 9. The art of advertising exemplified; 10. Author's mortifications; 11. Minim the critic; 12. Dick Shifter's rural excursion; 13. Books multiplied by useless compilations; 14. Narratives of travellers considered; 15. Horrour of the last.
Printer friendly version