Lives of the English Poets : Waller, Milton, Cowley

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. Renowned for his sharp wit and robust social commentary, Johnson's literary prowess was most aptly showcased in his 'A Dictionary of the English Language' (1755), which was among the first comprehensive dictionaries of the English language and remained a standard reference for over a century. Johnson's enduring influence on English literary criticism is epitomized in his work 'Lives of the English Poets: Waller, Milton, Cowley' (1781), an engaging series of short biographies that offer a rich assessment of the major poets of seventeenth-century England. Through this body of work, Johnson established the template for modern literary biography and criticism with his incisive analyses and commentary on the lives and works of poets such as Edmund Waller, John Milton, and Abraham Cowley. His biographies combined rigorous scholarship with an accessible style, a reflection of his belief that literature should not only instruct but also entertain. Johnson's eloquence and literary judgments helped shape the canon of English literature and continue to be studied for their insight, depth, and wit.