6 DECEMBER 1930, Page 48

The Conversations of Dr. Johnson, edited with an introduc- tion

by R. W. Postgate (Knopf, 8s. ad.) is a very much abridged version of Boswell, made on the plea that the bulk of the original frightens off many potential Johnsonians. As an introduction it may serve, but the suspicion that the editor does not appreciate the biographer is confirmed in the intro- duction, which is not abreast of modem research into Boswell 's

character. The format is good, but it is doubtful whether the illustrations add much to the book.

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