A Grammar of the English Tongue

Samuel Johnson, a prominent English literary figure, is celebrated for his diverse contributions as an author, lexicographer, biographer, and critic. His reputation largely stems from Boswell's biography, which portrays him as a gruff society figure, overshadowing his earlier struggles with poverty. Johnson's insights on grammar emphasize its importance and structure, dividing it into orthography, etymology, syntax, and prosody, each detailing the rules and art of language usage. His extensive quotations place him just behind Shakespeare in English literature.