English

DTIC ADA360053: Samuel Johnson's Military Writings,

The aim of this thesis is to examine Samuel Johnson's practices as a book reviewer. Chapter One provides a context for the thesis by briefly surveying the development of book reviewing during Johnson's lifetime. Chapter Two attempts to illuminate an under-appreciated aspect of Johnson's interest in book reviewing by considering the extent to which it can be said that he commented on recently published works in the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler essay serials. The third, fourth, and fifth chapters respectively analyze Johnson's reviewing in the Gentleman's Magazine, Literary Magazine, and Critical Review. Though the emphasis here is on Johnson's reviewing technique, considerable attention is given to examining Johnson's practices in relation to competing notices published elsewhere. Overall, this thesis seeks to demonstrate that Johnson was a skillful and conscientious book reviewer, an endeavor that can only highlight further his versatility as a literary critic.

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