In the south transept of Westminster Abbey is the grave of Dr Samuel Johnson, lexicographer and critic. He lies just in front of Shakespeare's memorial. The inscription in brass letters reads: SAMUEL ...

He lived hand-to-mouth as a “hack” or writer ... through his work on the dictionary, through his wit, his shade, his incredibly quotable and repeatable epigrams, Samuel Johnson's personality ...

There are many basic but essential facts to be learned about Samuel Johnson. For example, he was born in 1709 and died in 1784. His life spanned the reign of four British Monarchs: Queen Anne ...