This classic biography offers a vivid and intimate portrait of one of the most celebrated literary figures of the eighteenth century. Boswell recounts the life and times of his close friend Samuel Johnson, describing his literary output, intellectual pursuits, and personal relationships. The book offers a fascinating insight into the cultural and social context of Johnson's era, as well as the author's own life and times. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.