Works of Samuel Johnson, Vol 17

The first scholarly edition of Samuel Johnson’s translation of Jean-Pierre de Crousaz’s commentary on An Essay on Man  In 1736, Jean-Pierre de Crousaz published his Commentaire sur la traduction en vers de M. Abbé Du Resnel, de l’Essai de M. Pope sur l’homme, a critique of Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man. In 1739, Samuel Johnson published his translation of the critique. This volume, the first scholarly edition of Johnson’s translation, includes historical annotations and notes on Johnson’s method of translation. Also included are several lengthy footnotes that Johnson added to his translation, which provide his thoughts on evil—particularly the ruling passion and the necessity of free will. Many of the ideas first expressed here would occupy Johnson for the remainder of his life.