Books

A lovely ten volume edition of Boswell's life of Johnson, in half morocco bindings, and illustrated throughout. An attractively bound ten volume edition of this work by James Boswell, featuring additions from J. Wilson Croker and John Wright.Illustrated with an engraved title page and frontispiece to all volumes aside from volume IX, which has a frontispiece only, and with five plates to volume I, two of which are folding; four to volume II, two of which are folding; two to volume III, one of which is folding; two to volume IV; two to volume V; two to volume VI, one of which is folding; four to volume VII, two of which are folding; three to volume VIII, one of which is folding; two plates to volume IX, one of which is folding, and two folding plates to volume X.Collated, lacking only an engraved title page, to volume IX.Whilst Boswell's personal acquaintance with his subject began in 1763, when Johnson was fifty four years old, Boswell covered the entirety of Johnson's life by means of additional research. The most admired and best remembered portions of the book are Boswell's first-hand accounts of Johnson from the last twenty-one years of the subject's life.A landmark work in the development of the modern biography in English, many have claimed this to be the greatest biography ever written. Nevertheless, this biography takes many critical liberties with Johnson's life, with Boswell making various changes to Johnson's quotations and even censoring his comments.With the inscription of G. Bell to the front free endpaper of each volume. In half calf bindings, with marbled paper covered boards. Gilt detailing to back strip. Externally, very smart, with rubbing to centre of front board of volume X. Inscription to head of front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and generally clean, with only the odd spot. Very Good Indeed.

James Boswell's 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' is regarded as one of the greatest biographies written in the English language. It provides an in-depth and vivid recounting of the life of Samuel Johnson, a writer and critic who was a towering figure in 18th-century British literature.