Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D. / During the Last Twenty Years of His Life

Name: Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D. / During the Last Twenty Years of His Life
Author: Hester Lynch Piozzi

By Hester Lynch Piozzi

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About This Book

A close acquaintance collects episodic recollections of Samuel Johnson from the later years of his life, offering compact anecdotes and character sketches that reveal his conversation, habits, intellectual powers, and physical and mental infirmities. Domestic scenes and social gatherings display his wit, moral seriousness, and occasional bluntness, while the narrator adds reflective commentary on the balance between genius and learning and acknowledges personal bias and moments of bitterness. Presented as brief, nonchronological memories, the book aims to convey manners, opinions, and the lived texture of a long literary friendship.

About the Author

Hester Lynch Piozzi

Hester Lynch Piozzi (1741-1821) was an English author and notable figure in the literary circles of her time. She is best known for her insightful and engaging work, "Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D.," which provides a personal glimpse into the life of the renowned writer Samuel Johnson, with whom she had a close friendship. Piozzi's writings often reflect her travels and experiences, as seen in her travelogue, "Observations and Reflections Made in the Course of a Journey through France, Italy, and Germany." Her correspondence, particularly in "The Intimate Letters of Hester Piozzi and Penelope Pennington," showcases her literary prowess and offers a window into the social dynamics of her era. Piozzi's contributions continue to enrich the understanding of 18th-century literature.