The Life of Samuel Johnson

At times, Boswell breaks up the strict narrative style of the book and takes opportunities to digress into other topics that illuminate Johnson and his relationships. In this section, Boswell expands the previous section’s mention of the friends that visited Johnson after Tetty’s death to discuss Johnson’s friendships in more detail.

Sir Joshua Reynolds is one of the major English painters of the era, especially noted for his portraits. Johnson meets Reynolds at the home of some mutual acquaintances, and they remain friends until Johnson’s death. Johnson respects Reynolds’ independence of mind. Bennet Langton, a young Oxford student, comes to London to meet Johnson because he greatly admires The Rambler. He finds Johnson’s appearance and manner very different from those of a “decorous philosopher,” but the two men become great friends. Johnson, Langton, and Langton’s roguish classmate Topham Beauclerk go on amusing outings throughout London and the Thames River. Dr. Charles Burney, the musicologist and music historian, is another friend of Johnson’s.

In 1753 Johnson begins a new periodical, The Adventurer, similar in style to The Rambler but more varied in subject matter and containing more essays by authors other than Johnson. Johnson also continues work on the Dictionary, laboring with “redoubled vigour” as he sees completion of the task in sight.