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What sources did James Boswell use to write The Life of Samuel Johnson?
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Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson, oil on canvas by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c. 1756; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
To write The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., James Boswell utilized a variety of primary sources and personal records gathered during his 21-year friendship with Samuel Johnson.1
His primary sources included:
- Personal Records and Journals: From the beginning of their acquaintance in 1763, Boswell used a self-invented system of shorthand to record Johnson’s conversations and statements. He also drew upon his own extensive journals, which provided a detailed account of their interactions.12
- Correspondence and Papers: Boswell skillfully interwove Johnson’s personal letters and private papers into the narrative.2
- Interviews: He gathered significant material through interviews with a large number of people who had known Johnson personally.2
- Direct Observation: The biography was informed by Boswell’s own observations of Johnson’s behavior, habits, and deportment.23
By combining these records with his own dramatic talent for re-creating conversations, Boswell was able to capture the living texture of Johnson’s personality and intellect.23