17,394
edits
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the Literary Club
His master work is his ''Dictionary of the English Language'', published in 1755, it was the first great dictionary of English (or any language), and was based tens of thousands of quotations that displayed a complete mastery of the body of English literature as well as the technical sources in law, medicine and engineering. Each word was defined precisely and each supported with quotations showing the historical usages. (A religious man, Johnson refused to quote writers he deemed irreligious.) The ''Dictionary'' not only shaped as subsequent dictionaries (such as that by American [[Noah Webster]]), but it helped shape and standardize the language and he prepared three new enlarged editions; other editors kept expanding the work in the next century.
His master work is his ''Dictionary of the English Language'', published in 1755, it was the first great dictionary of English (or any language), and was based tens of thousands of quotations that displayed a complete mastery of the body of English literature as well as the technical sources in law, medicine and engineering. Each word was defined precisely and each supported with quotations showing the historical usages. (A religious man, Johnson refused to quote writers he deemed irreligious.) The ''Dictionary'' not only shaped as subsequent dictionaries (such as that by American [[Noah Webster]]), but it helped shape and standardize the language and he prepared three new enlarged editions; other editors kept expanding the work in the next century.
By 1764 Johnson was the center of the Literary Club, which featured many of the leading intellectuals and artists of London; he dominated by his quick wit and vast range of knowledge.
Johnson was a conservative and ridiculed the American Revolution--as indeed he ridiculed most politicians in London in his brilliant conversations, which were often recorded in the touchstone of all English biographies [[James Boswell]]'s ''Life of Samuel Johnson''.
Johnson was a conservative and ridiculed the American Revolution--as indeed he ridiculed most politicians in London in his brilliant conversations, which were often recorded in the touchstone of all English biographies [[James Boswell]]'s ''Life of Samuel Johnson''.