Books

An exceptionally lovely extra-illustrated edition of Boswell's Life of Johnson, in full calf signed bindings by Tout. An extra illustrated four volume edition of this landmark work in the development of the modern biography in English. Many have claimed this to be the greatest biography ever written.Illustrated by the publisher with two portrait frontispieces, and one folding plate presenting a facsimile of Johnson's writing. Lacking the folding facsimile plate to volume IV.Extra illustrated with the addition of a further one-hundred and twenty-five portraits and views: thirty-nine plates to volume I, twenty-five to volume II, thirty-two to volume III, and twenty-nine to volume IV.In full calf signed bindings by Tout.Whilst Boswell's personal acquaintance with his subject began in 1763, when Samuel 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.With eight pages of publisher's advertisements to the rear of volume II, and eight pages of advertisements to the rear of volume IV.Each volume retains the original half title.An exceptionally lovely work. In full calf signed bindings, with gilt detailing. Externally, excellent. Minor rubbing to raised bands and joints. Internally, firmly bound. Pages exceptionally bright and generally clean, but with light tide marks to fore edge of pages 298-344 of volume II. 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.