Dr.Johnson's Dictionary: The Extraordinary Story of the Book That Defined the Wo
Registered by BookGroupMan of Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on 11/6/2006
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
The story of the father of all English dictionaries in bite-sized alphabetic entries from Adventurous to Zootomy
(26/09/09) The author of this semi-biog wrote a doctoral thesis on Johnson; so he knows his stuff, but it does sometimes come across a bit dry and scholarly. The book follows Johnsons life up to and including production of his masterpiece...plus some follow-up essays. It lacks the shape and story of a good novel, and the order and rigour of a reference book, so a bit disappointing :( That said, the book is full of great quotes and a pot pourri of Johnson's sometimes odd, but very personal, definitions. A quote that sums up SJ's thwarted ambitions, '...the dreams of a poet doomed at last to wake a lexicographer.' And The dictionary entry for a lexicographer, 'A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words.'
(26/09/09) The author of this semi-biog wrote a doctoral thesis on Johnson; so he knows his stuff, but it does sometimes come across a bit dry and scholarly. The book follows Johnsons life up to and including production of his masterpiece...plus some follow-up essays. It lacks the shape and story of a good novel, and the order and rigour of a reference book, so a bit disappointing :( That said, the book is full of great quotes and a pot pourri of Johnson's sometimes odd, but very personal, definitions. A quote that sums up SJ's thwarted ambitions, '...the dreams of a poet doomed at last to wake a lexicographer.' And The dictionary entry for a lexicographer, 'A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words.'
Journal Entry 2 by BookGroupMan at -- Wild Released New York City in New York City, New York USA on Thursday, October 15, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/15/2009 UTC) at -- Wild Released New York City in New York City, New York USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this in a v.busy Starbucks near my office (340 Madison)...if you're in here avoiding the rain, welcome to bookcrossing. Enjoy :)
(oops, I released this in the wrong time zone!! this afternoon at about 4 o'clock EST)
I left this in a v.busy Starbucks near my office (340 Madison)...if you're in here avoiding the rain, welcome to bookcrossing. Enjoy :)
(oops, I released this in the wrong time zone!! this afternoon at about 4 o'clock EST)
