University News Last updated 14 October 2009
In this the tercentenary year of his birth, Birmingham City University will honour the West Midlands' second most famous literary son, Dr Samuel Johnson, with a special event to be held on Tuesday 20 October at Birmingham Conservatoire as part of the Birmingham Book Festival.
The event, entitled, Now and in Time, is organised by Professor Philip Smallwood, a leading Johnson scholar who works in the University's School of English, where Johnson has been taught and researched for over 30 years.
Though best-known for compiling the first complete English dictionary, Samuel Johnson (pictured) was also a poet, journalist, conversationalist, travel writer, literary critic and biographer. Born in Lichfield and highly influential in his own time, his comments on war, social injustice, bereavement, ageing, slavery and politics provide insight into what has and has not changed since the eighteenth century.
From poetry to dictionary entries, political commentary to witty aphorisms, Now and in Time offers the chance to hear readings from across the range of Johnson's works, recalling not only his combative wit and intellectual tenacity, but also his emotional depth, humanity and moral courage.
Philip Smallwood, Professor of English at Birmingham City University writes, "I am delighted to be leading the University's homage to Dr Johnson. This event echoes celebrations of Johnson's 300 anniversary around the world; but Johnson's Midlands' roots give a special significance to our readings of Johnson on home soil, and only a few miles from his birthplace. Johnson's influence on the literature curriculum at Birmingham City University, as on its scholarship over the years, has been a profound and vitalizing one, and it is right that the University should celebrate the occasion of Johnson's birth in style."
Now and in Time includes a unique opportunity to view an early copy of Johnson's most famous work, A Dictionary of the English Language. A fourth edition copy, published in Dublin in 1775, is now owned by Birmingham City University's Library and Learning Resources Department. The work, in two volumes, was acquired from the City of Birmingham College of Commerce in 1952 and has never been exhibited before. It will be on display for one night only.
Andrew Scragg, Librarian Liaison, Collection Management at Birmingham City University states: "The University's Library and Learning Resources Department is very pleased to be part of this celebration of the life and work of Dr Johnson. The Dictionary represents a tangible link back to Johnson's lifetime - showing not only the techniques of printing and production, but also the ideas and values of eighteenth century Britain. This is one of the most significant items in our collection of works by and about Dr Johnson; a growing collection which demonstrates our continuing role supporting study, research and understanding of the man, his works and his enduring impact on English literature."
Added by on October 14, 2009