Which Johnson Biography?

Noting the NYTBR's coverage of the two new Samuel Johnson biographies inspires me toward the two I have on hand unread -- John Wain's and W. Jackson Bate's. Any recommendations or comments?

don't rush or get impatient, whatever you do. we have much to learn from the learnrd docktor. and don't neglect his works, especially his LIVES OF THE POETS.

At my age, rush and impatience are very relative concepts. But it's high time I got around to him. Before the Reaper gets around to me.

I also own both biographies. I enjoyed the Wain very much. He seems to have real imaginative sympathy, comes from the same area, and writes extremely well.

The Bate is one I mean to get to, this year.

I'll also agree on reading Samuel Johnson, himself, if you haven't. The Ramblers or Rasselas are other good places to start.

Wain is most readable. Bate's is considered more scholarly, whatever that may mean. One always wants to go back to Boswell, somehow, however.

I enjoyed Dr Johnson's Dictionary by Henry Hitchings, although it is more about the dictionary than the man himself :)

Oh, so did I! It was excellent on the making of the book, and the quality of it, but also written with a rare love of words. Worth adding to a Johnsonian library.

I look forward to reading more Hitchings.

>7 Eurydice: Eurydice, I'm reading Hitchings latest book, "How to Really Talk about Books You Haven't Read" at the moment. I think it will come in handy if I ever find myself at an LT group meet ;)

Excellent! First, I will be forewarned about you. ;) Second, I will buy it for myself...

This year being the Johnson tercentenary (of course you knew), two new biographies have appeared. Haven't had time to do more than read about them yet.

Here's a key link:

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=501937

And another:

http://www.slate.com/id/2208759/

I own and thoroughly enjoy Bate's great book. These look to be worth the read too.