The Reformist Ideas of Samuel Johnson (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781443831819)

This book explores what remains an under-studied aspect of Samuel Johnsonâ (TM)s profile as a person and writer â " namely, his attitude to social improvement. The interpretive framework provided here is cross-disciplinary, and applies perspectives from social and cultural history, legal history, architectural history and, of course, English literature. This allows Johnsonâ (TM)s writings to be read against the peculiarities of their historical milieu, and reveals Johnson in a new light â " as an advocate of social improvement for human betterment.

Considering the multiplicity of narrative modes that have been employed, the book points to the blurred boundaries and overlapping between history, testimony and fiction, and argues that a future biography of Samuel Johnson has to recognise that throughout his life he valued the utilitarian aspect of his manifesto as a writer to impart a more charitable attitude in the pursuit of a more caring society.

Author: Stefka Ritchie
ISBN-10: 1443831816
ISBN-13: 9781443831819
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Language: English
Published: 01/23/2017
Pages: 315
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.80w x 1.10d