This collection explores relationships between Samual Johnson and several of his main contemporaries-James Boswell, Edmund Burke, Frances Burney, Robert Chambers, Oliver Goldsmith, Bennet Langton, Arthur Murphy, Richard Savage, Anna Seward, and Thomas Warton-and analyzes some of the literary productions emanating from the pressures within those relationships.

Samuel Johnson's life was situated within a rich social and intellectual community of friendships and antagonisms. This book is a collection of ten essays that explores relationships between Johnson and several of his main contemporaries and analyses some of the literary productions emanating from the pressures within those relationships.