“The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.” These are words attributed to Samuel Johnson, the English lexicographer and writer (1709-84). Turned upon himself, Johnson’s aphorism–according to Donald Greene and John Vance–reflects a complicated literary life upon which rests a burden of popularly held misconceptions, such as notions of Samuel Johnson as literary dictator, rigid neoclassical critic, and unimaginative writer. Greene and Vance offer some counterpoints to these inaccuracies, and Greene discusses his literary biography that deals with the last years of Johnson’s life.
At the time of this interview, Greene was a Fellow at the National Humanities Center (1984-85) and professor of English at the University of Southern California. Vance was professor of English at the University of Georgia.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
