Reviews

Selected Essays by David Womersley, Samuel Johnson

snakat1974's review

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funny informative inspiring reflective

catlady496's review

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3.0

I did it. I’m done with this.

Samuel Johnson’s essays border the line of him being a dick and me agreeing with him. There are no in-between feelings about his essays. His style is annoying because it is a dizzying mix of philosophy and morals.

I just had to read this for a class, but this is counting towards my reading goal.

grubstlodger's review

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5.0

His essays are the reason I love him.

There is not a single essay without at least one little phrase or idea to make you think, ponder or smile. It's a real pity there isn't a completely affordable version of his Rambler Essays for everyone, as even the lesser of those have something to say.

For example, I was reading one last night and came across the phrase, 'general smile of mankind'. I love it, so succint and so right.

Yes, Johnson uses long sentences and is keen to use a long latinate word (he was putting a dictionary together at the time after all) but not a word is wasted.

Also, he's funny. The one about living in a garret, where he lists all the benefits - or the one where he talks about the 'human screech owl' who shouts down the project. Or the few where he talks about writing right up to the deadline because he is too lazy.

I love it all.
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