Lives of the Poets

Samuel Johnson's 'Lives of the Poets' presents a substantial and enduring collection of biographical and critical portraits of 17th and 18th-century English poets. Originally spanning 52 lives, with a primary focus on literary giants such as Milton, Dryden, Swift, and Pope, Johnson's monumental work was lauded by Thomas Gray as a 'compendious story of a whole important age in English literature.' This masterwork is celebrated for its unsentimental, opinionated, and remarkably quotable prose, which continues to shape the posthumous reputations of the writers it examines. This particular selection, drawn from Roger Lonsdale's authoritative edition, features eleven of the most pivotal poets, complemented by an engaging introduction, helpful notes, and a modern bibliography. Published to coincide with the 300th anniversary of Johnson's birth, this Classic Library edition aims to reintroduce this significant literary work to a new generation, providing meticulously curated access to a cornerstone of English literary criticism that has long been out of print.