Johnson is writing for someone interested and intelligent but not necessarily educated in literary things, someone who is interested in learning about poetry and its machinery and what makes it good. He is careful to help readers to discover the best writing, and to see how it was done. Criticism disdains to chase a schoolboy to his common-places.Ĭriticism does not disdain to point to Gray’s technical faults, and a good thing too: “Gray is too fond of words arbitrarily compounded.” This criticism reflects Johnson’s concern for the common reader. The second stanza, exhibiting Mars’s car and Jove’s eagle, is unworthy of further notice. Even poems that start off being praised get this sort of dismissive review: Much of the rest of Gray’s writing disappointed Johnson.

Johnson said this about Gray’s Elegy in a Country Churchyard. I rejoice to concur with the common reader for by the common sense of readers uncorrupted with literary prejudices, after all the refinements of subtilty and the dogmatism of learning, must be finally decided all claim to poetical honours. What an amazing piece of social history.Ĭondition: The front cover is missing a piece and is coming away at the front but, surprisingly, the rest of the book is in excellent condition for its 74 years.The starting point is Samuel Johnson, who wrote in the Life of Gray : It includes a note at the front explaining that war-time production difficulties meant Pelican were unable to maintain large stocks of their publications and readers wishing to know the current list of titles available were to send a penny stamp or stamped addressed envelope.

The book itself was published for the first time during the WWII, printed on very thin paper due to the lack of resources, and with advertisements for shoes and cigarettes on the back pages.

Virginia Woolf described it as 'an unprofessional book of criticism dealing with such lives and books as have chanced to come my way'. It is a collection of Virginia Woolf's essays about reading, covering topics such as Robinson Crusoe, the books of Thomas Hardy and the subject of how one should read a book. This book is wonderful for so many reasons. A fascinating and rare find: a wartime first edition of Virginia Woolf's Second Common Reader published by Pelican books in 1944.

The second common reader