Dr Johnson
Dr Johnson’s monumental dictionary commands admiration, but it is the man himself who holds my affection. Whether you’ve just heard my talk or simply want to explore further, I’ve gathered some of my favourite books, articles, films and other resources here.
Discover the man behind the dictionary—and the cat who owned him.
More literary discoveries await you
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Dr Samuel Johnson has long been one of my favourite literary personalities. His wit, formidable conversation and gift for a memorable phrase make him wonderful company on the page, while his struggles and kindness give us much to admire in the man himself. Poet, essayist, critic and biographer, he was far more than the compiler of a dictionary.
Yet A Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1755, remains his great achievement. Johnson brought words to life through quotations from Shakespeare and other writers, and his definitions sometimes reveal a delightfully personal view of the world. His dictionary is a work of scholarship, but it is also a book in which its author’s character is never far away.
There was a tender side to this imposing man, too. His affection for his cat Hodge is one of my favourite things about him, and I enjoyed exploring their relationship in Great Writers & the Cats Who Owned Them. Johnson’s kindness towards his feline companion offers a lovely glimpse of the heart behind the celebrated intellect.
If you visit London, I warmly recommend Dr Johnson’s House in Gough Square. Standing in the attic where he worked on his dictionary brings you closer to the extraordinary labour behind it. Here, I have gathered some of my favourite books, articles, videos and other resources to help you discover more about Johnson—and, of course, Hodge.
His generous humanity to the miserable was almost beyond example.” ― James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791)
Dr Johnson’s formidable intellect, memorable wit and generosity make him one of the literary figures I most enjoy exploring. I have lectured on his life and dictionary, written about his achievements, and celebrated his affection for Hodge. Here are my own resources.
Samuel Johnson is born
Samuel Johnson agrees to compile a dictionary
Samuel Johnson marries
Samuel Johnson publishes A Dictionary of the English Language
Samuel Johnson dies
The Johnson Society of Australia
A clean shirt for the ladies … Dr Johnson and women of Scotland, a free video talk
Dr Johnson & His Dictionary, a video talk
The finished work easily ranks as one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship, and probably the greatest ever performed by one individual who laboured under anything like the disadvantages in a comparable length of time.” ― Walter Jackson Bate, Samuel Johnson
If you’d like to explore Dr Johnson further, here are some books I recommend, places to find his work and other useful resources.
Prefer to borrow? Search your local library’s online catalogue using the book title and author. If a title isn’t listed, ask your librarian whether it can be borrowed from another library through an interlibrary loan.
BOOKS ABOUT DR JOHNSON
Samuel Johnson: A Biography by Peter Martin
The Personal History of Samuel Johnson by Christopher Hibbert
Dr Johnson’s Dictionary: The Book that Defined the World by Henry Hitchings
The World in Thirty-Eight Chapters or Dr Johnson’s Guide to Life by Henry Hitchings
The Making of Dr Johnson by John Wiltshire
BOOKS BY DR JOHNSON
Dr Johnson’s writings include poetry, essays, literary criticism, biography and his monumental dictionary. For a full bibliography of Samuel Johnson’s work, please look here.
To Buy
Samuel Johnson: Selected Works by Samuel Johnson
Read online Free
Samuel Johnson: A Dictionary of the English Language, complete digitised version online.
MOVIES & VIDEOS
Some versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
YouTube: BBC – Samuel Johnson, The Dictionary Man
YouTube: BBC – Boswell and Johnsons Tour Of The Western Isles 1993
I provide these links for convenience only and do not endorse or assume liability for the content or quality of these third-party sites. I only recommend books I have read and know. Some of these links are my affiliate links. If you buy a product using these links I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but does help cover the cost of producing my free newsletter.
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