Samuel Johnson by Leslie Stephen is a comprehensive biography that offers an in-depth look into the life and works of the renowned 18th-century English author Samuel Johnson. Stephen's critical analysis provides a detailed examination of Johnson's literary achievements and his influence on English literature. The book explores Johnson's significant contributions to literary criticism and his impact on the intellectual history of his era. Through personal anecdotes and historical context, Stephen sheds light on the complexities of Johnson's character and his enduring legacy. The biography situates Johnson within the broader framework of literary figures and the Johnsonian era, highlighting his role in shaping literary and intellectual discourse. By offering a nuanced understanding of Johnson's life, works, and the literary landscape of the 18th century, Stephen's book remains a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in Johnsonian studies and the evolution of English literature.
Sir Leslie Stephen KCB FBA (November 28, 1832 - February 22, 1904) was an English novelist, critic, historian, biographer, climber, and early humanist campaigner. He was also Virginia Woolf's and Vanessa Bell's father. Sir Leslie Stephen was the son of Sir James Stephen and (Lady) Jane Catherine (née Venn) Stephen, and was born at 14 (later renumbered 42) Hyde Park Gate, Kensington in London. His father was a prominent abolitionist and Colonial Undersecretary of State. His siblings included James Fitzjames Stephen (1829-1894) and Caroline Emelia Stephen (1834-1909), the fourth of five children. His ancestors belonged to the Clapham Sect, an early-nineteenth-century group of primarily evangelical Christian social reformers. He saw a lot of the Macaulays, James Spedding, Sir Henry Taylor, and Nassau Senior at his father's residence. Leslie Stephen attended Eton College, King's College London, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he earned his B.A. (20th wrangler) in 1854 and his M.A. in 1857. In 1854, he was elected a fellow of Trinity Hall, and in 1856, he was appointed a junior tutor. He was ordained in 1859, but his study of philosophy, along with the religious disputes surrounding Charles Darwin's publication of On the Origin of Species (1859), caused him to lose his faith in 1862, and he resigned from his positions at Cambridge and relocated to London in 1864.
