A literary giant of the 18th century, Samuel Johnson made lasting contributions to English literature as an essayist, moralist, poet, biographer, literary critic and editor. His philosophical novella Rasselas became so popular that it was translated into five languages. A new English edition was published every year and even today there are multiple print editions available.
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"Read this in spurts, probably should have made it a night or two, but enjoyed it from two angles. The overall world view portrayed is thought provoking, especially when compared with something like Candide. But I also enjoyed the excellent wordsmanship with our English language. Short, worth a read, and just adds further to my respect and love for Johnson. The dude could turn a lengthy phrase." — Steve (4 out of 5 stars)
"Read this in spurts, probably should have made it a night or two, but enjoyed it from two angles. The overall world view portrayed is thought provoking, especially when compared with something like Candide. But I also enjoyed the excellent wordsmanship with our English language. Short, worth a read, and just adds further to my respect and love for Johnson. The dude could turn a lengthy phrase."
" A philosophical novel in the "quest" format imparted with spirit, beauty and intelligence. Enjoyable and thought-provoking from start to finish. "
" Really? They couldn't find anything, anywhere to be content about, or to rejoice in? Surely no one except my mother still spends their life in complaint about their lot? "
" From the curriculum of "The Rise of the Novel" course at University of Westminster Spring 2009. "
" Happiness is where you chose to find it. I used to move from place to place thinking that moving to another city would fix all my problems. There, I would rebuild my troubled relationships just with different people. This is kind of what the book is about. "
" While this is a very simplistic book I really enjoyed the underlying message of this book. A bit like a grownups fairytale. "
" Not so much a novel as a vehicle for philosophy. Great fun. "
" The real answer is that, sometimes, there is not a real answer. "
" Samuel Johnson gives a shit about things. "
" I don't like Johnson much, though I respect his literary criticism and his Dictionary. I don't really like to be spoon-fed philosophy or morals, and he does both. "
" How can someone squeeze the entirety of human endeavor and experience into 150 pages? Bravo, Dr. Johnson. "
" Read for class (Fiction Before 1832). Tolerable. "
" I loved the sayings, mantras, and quotes in this book. I could read it again and pull out so many life lessons. "
" A veteran attorney at my internship gave me this book. I'm not sure what lesson the attorney wanted me to absorb, but Sam Johnson has wit enough to make this ridiculous tale go down easy. "
" In the words of my 2 year old nephew ucky. now for my words I feel like I've read this same plot from other authors of the time period. Not a horrible story but kind of an overkill thing right now. "
" old and didactic, but not dull?! "
" I liked the quasi totalitarian set-yp - reminded me of the 1960s tv series The Prisoner! "
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. Johnson was a devout Anglican and committed Tory and has been described as “arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history.”
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