Plan and Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language


Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)

(4.9 stars; 5 reviews)

The published dictionary was a huge book: with pages nearly 1½ feet tall and 20 inches wide, it contained 42,773 words; it also sold for the huge price of £4/10s. ($400?). It would be years before "Johnson's Dictionary", as it came to be known, would ever turn a profit; authors' royalties being unknown at that time, Johnson, once his contract to deliver the book was fulfilled, received no further monies connected to the book.

Johnson, once again a freelance writer, albeit now a famous one, faced a grim hand-to-mouth existence; however, in July 1762 the twenty-four year old King George III granted Johnson an annual pension of £300. While not making Johnson rich, it allowed him a modest yet comfortable independence for the remaining thirty years of his life. (Summary from Wikipedia). (2 hr 22 min)

Chapters

Plan of an English Dictionary – Part 1 33:14 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Plan of an English Dictionary – Part 2 27:40 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Preface to the Dictionary – Part 1 35:24 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Preface to the Dictionary – Part 2 46:08 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)

Reviews

good book well read


(5 stars)

thank you Denny Sayers


(5 stars)

I always like when Dennis Sayers reads.