Johnson and His Circle
Samuel Johnson. Dedication to John Hoole's Jerusalem Delivered. 1763. Manuscript. MS Hyde 50 (15) |
Despite his famous distaste for patronage, Johnson excelled at writing dedications to the wealthy, the powerful, and the royal, and performed this service for his friends on numerous occasions. Johnson composed this dedication to Queen Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III, to precede his friend John Hoole's translation of the epic Italian poem by Torquato Tasso, La Gerusalemme liberata. |