The Letters of Samuel Johnson, Volume I

Samuel Johnson's letters serve as invaluable biographical documents, offering a vivid portrayal of the influential eighteenth-century writer. The Hyde Edition, the first scholarly collection in forty years, includes previously unknown letters and provides accurate transcriptions from original documents, particularly illuminating his correspondence with Hester Thrale. This edition systematically records deletions, revealing Johnson's stylistic choices and thought processes. Enhanced by extensive annotations and insights from recent scholarship, it deepens our understanding of Johnson's life and literary context.