A WORK so well known as "BosWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON," needs no eulogy to those who have read it. Hitherto, however, the book has hardly been brought within reach of the great mass of the lovers of literature; and it may interest those who make acquaintance for the first time with this masterpiece of Biography, to know that the most cminent of critics who have written upon the subject since the book appeared are unanimous in their opinion, that as a life-like portraiture, not only of the personal appearance and singular habits of a distinguished man, but of his strong prejudices, his vigorous eloquence, his homely common sense, and his ready wit, so strikingly shown in the series of conversations which the industry of Boswell has preserved to us—this book stands unrivalled in the literature of our own or any other nation. It is to be hoped that the present edition will recommend itself, both by its unparalleled cheapness and by the more sterling quality of careful and judicious annotation which it will be found to possess, to many thousands who have not hitherto had an opportunity of becoming familiar with the work.
A few supplementary notes have been appended, with the view of elucidating any apparent obscurities, without overburdening the text.
This edition of "Boswell's Life of Johnson" has been divided into chapters for the reader's convenience, in the perusal of so great a body of
The Chronological List of the works of Dr. Johnson, prepared by Boswell, will be found at the end of the Biography.