The Year of Revision

1773: AETAT. 64.]-In 1773, writes Boswell, [Johnson's] only publication was an edition of his folio Dictionary, with additions and corrections; nor did he, so far as is known, furnish any productions of his fertile pen to any of his numerous friends or dependants, except the Preface to his old amanuensis Macbean's 'Dictionary of Ancient Geography'. His Shakespeare, indeed, which had been received with high approbation by the publick [Boswell exaggerates here], and gone through several editions [three, actually, in as many years], was this year re-published by George Steevens, Esq. a gentleman not only deeply skilled in ancient learning, and of very extensive reading in English literature, especially the early writers, but at the same time of acute discernment and elegant taste.'91 On 24 February 1773 Johnson wrote to Boswell: A new edition of my great Dictionary [he is referring to its size, not being immodest] is printed, from a copy which I was persuaded to revise; but having made no preparation, I was able to do very little. Some superfluities I have expunged, and some faults I have corrected, and here and there scattered a remark; but the main fabrick of the work remains as it was. I had looked very little into it since I wrote it, and, I think, I found it full as often better, as worse, than I had expected.2 Johnson is consciously or unconsciously repeating himself in part, for he wrote in the Advertisement to the revised Dictionary

Geography · Lexicography and Language Studies

• Breaking the Laws of Motion

  Sara Landreth•New Literary History•2012

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