How did James Boswell’s shorthand system help him write about Samuel Johnson?

James Boswell’s self-invented system of shorthand was instrumental in his ability to document the life of Samuel Johnson. By using this method, Boswell was able to keep a detailed, accurate record of Johnson’s conversations from the moment they first met in 1763 until Johnson's death 21 years later.1

Because Johnson was a forceful and witty talker, these recorded conversations became the foundation of The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., which is widely considered the greatest of English biographies. Boswell, acting as a superlative reporter, often used these notes to preserve statements that captured the essence of his subject, even prompting Johnson with questions to elicit remarks worth recording. This meticulous documentation allowed Boswell to create a vivid, objective biography that remains a landmark in the genre.1