Samuel Johnson's Lives of the Poets was a massive undertaking. Published in 1781, the massive collection of 66 volumes was the defining accomplishment of the author's life. Although writing about other authors, Johnson contributes his original work to the cannon of poetry by offering incisive and thorough literary criticism. He writes about 56 separate poets, a sizable feat. Johnson died three years after the publication of this collection, making it truly his crowning achievement.
Following a basic format, Johnson demonstrates no constraint in his treatment of individual poets. Some are give a few pages, but others receive an entire volume of writing. Johnson chooses 17th and 18th century poets for the most part, making no mistake to criticize posthumously. He first provides some biographical background upon the poet, largely obtained from secondary research. Although the construction of these biographies is somewhat derivative, Johnson adds flavor and places his own filter upon events.
After a brief background, Johnson dives into the achievements of these famous poets. He is eager to paint an accurate picture of their fame and why. This "why" question is unique to Johnson's criticism at the time because he is attempting to explain just how important these men were to the field of poetry because of innovation and artistry, not just popularity. Similarly, this unabashed devotion to the art is reflected in Johnson's criticism of some of the poet's works. He does not address every piece ever written, but his comments are extensive, pertaining to form, content, accessibility, and even legacy of the poems.
