Why did James Boswell include Samuel Johnson’s conversations in his biography?

James Boswell included Samuel Johnson’s conversations in his biography because Johnson was a forceful, witty talker whose personality and intellect were best captured through his speech.1

Boswell, a superlative reporter, used a self-invented system of shorthand to record these interactions throughout their 21-year friendship. He often posed questions that appeared naive or ignorant specifically to prompt Johnson to make statements worth preserving. By actively drawing Johnson out and setting up scenes designed to yield rich insights, Boswell was able to interweave these conversations with letters and personal observations to elicit the living texture of Johnson’s character, ensuring his subject would be seen as he really was.12