The Lives of the Poets

The Lives of the Poets is a collection of biographical and critical essays by Samuel Johnson, published between 1779 and 1781. Initially conceived as brief introductions to an edition of English poets, the work expanded significantly. Johnson, who loved anecdote and the biographical aspects of literature, covered poets from Abraham Cowley to his own generation.1

The essays are arranged chronologically by the poets' death dates and include major figures like John Milton, John Dryden, Joseph Addison, and Alexander Pope, as well as lesser-known poets. Johnson structured each life into three parts: a narrative of the poet's life, a summary of their character, and a critical assessment of their poetry. His work is noted for its insightful literary criticism and its moral intent, often chastising failings and commending virtue. Johnson's own life and literary achievements, including his Dictionary of the English Language and his critical essays, are extensively documented in James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson.123