Johnson's divided mind.

JOHNSON, Samuel, 1709-1784; AUTHORS; WORKS of the English Poets, The (Book); POETS; POEMS

The article examines the works of author Samuel Johnson. It details Johnson's decision to agree to a proposal made by booksellers in London, England to write brief prefaces for the "Works of the English Poets," a series of fifty-six volumes that promised to include all the important English poets since the Restoration. By 1777, Johnson was the top brand name in British publishing. He was established as the chief living authority literature. The article also reports on Johnson's interest in biography as a genre, and in the biographies of English writers in particular.