history. Special tribute should be given to Johnson’s biographer,
James Boswell (1740-1795), whose “Life o f Johnson” was
published in 1791. The publication in the middle ofthe twentieth
century of Boswell’s own journals and diaries has established him
as a major writer, independently of the ‘Life”. It was the Jonson
of the later years that he recorded, working from minute records
o f h is sayings, and his mannerism, and with a realistic art that has
no parallel. The capacity, the wit, and the downrightness of
Johnson, along with his often kindly and always devout approach
to life, are the elements ofthe portrait which Boswell has created,
and without his biographer Johnson would be a lesser man. The
list should also include an outstanding playwright o f the time,
Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Richard Brinsley Sheriidan
(1751-1816)
Sheridan was a dramatist and politician. He produced several
memorable comedies and was an excellent speaker in the British
Parliament. At one time he was Under-Secretary for Foreign
Affairs and Secretary to the Treasury.
Sheridan was born in Dublin. In his early 20’s he wrote his
comedy “The Rivals” (1775), showing an ease and mastery which
in a first play was almost incredible. Sheridan’s finest play, one of
the great comedies of English drama “The School for Scandal”
was written in 1777. This play exposes society people who love
malicious gossip and does it with glittering wit. Here the author
creates contrasting characters o f a careless but kind young man,
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
