Lives of the English Poets: Gay, Thomson, Young, Gray, &c.

"Lives of the English Poets" by Samuel Johnson is a biographical collection written in the early 18th century. This work presents an array of poetic figures from the English literary canon, focusing on their lives, contributions, and the circumstances that shaped their artistry. Notable subjects include figures like Edward Young, William King, and John Gay, as Johnson examines both their literary merit and personal experiences. The opening of this work introduces the reader to the premise and structure of the collection, specifically noting that it includes twenty lives of English poets, with particular attention given to Edward Young. Johnson provides a chronological account of poets born in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, such as Samuel Garth, Charles Montague, and William Collins, discussing their literary achievements in relation to their backgrounds and the social dynamics of their time. He sets the stage for a deeper exploration of these writers, hinting at the varied themes and life stories that will follow in the subsequent chapters.