Not to be confused with The Rambler (the Catholic periodical), the 2013 film of the same name, or the British magazine of the same name, published in the 1890s.
This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(July 2016)
The Rambler was a periodical (strictly, a series of short papers) by Samuel Johnson.
The Rambler was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752[1] and totals 208 articles.[2] It was Johnson's most consistent and sustained work in the English language. Though similar in name to preceding publications such as The Spectator and The Tatler, Johnson made his periodical unique by using a style of prose which differed from that of the time period. The most popular publications of the day were written in the common or colloquial language of the people whereas The Rambler was written in elevated prose. As was then common for the type of publication, the subject matter was confined only to the imagination of the author (and the sale of the publication); typically, however, The Rambler discussed subjects such as morality, literature, society, politics, and religion. Johnson included quotes and ideas in his publication from Renaissance humanists such as Desiderius Erasmus and René Descartes. His writings in The Rambler are considered to be neoclassical.
Purposeedit
The Rambler was written primarily for the newfound, rising middle-class of the 18th century, who sought social fluency within aristocratic social circles. It was especially targeted to the middle-class audience that were increasingly marrying into aristocratic families in order to create socio-economic alliances, but did not possess the social and intellectual tools to integrate into those higher social circles which required great understanding of subjects, as listed above in the Description. Copies of The Rambler were written in essay form and were made cheaply available to the middle-class. In his fourth section of The Rambler (31 March 1750), Johnson points out that he would like to "Join both profit and delight in one" in the prelude; that is, provide intellectual profit and literary delight to those who read his work. This desire to "join both profit and delight" streams throughout the publications, and is particularly resonant of Classical literary design. The majority of the subject matter in The Rambler focused more on moral than social issues. In this sense, Johnson's writings were didactic, although he maintains an explorative attitude rather than a strictly instructive voice.
Comparison with The Spectatoredit
As its author lamented in its final essay, "I have never been much a favourite to the publick," the publication was not an immediate success. Perhaps this was due to Johnson's departure from The Spectator, which could be considered his precedent. The latter was a periodical published from 1711 to 1712 by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, popular for its light treatment of elevated subjects by "enliven[ing] morality with wit." In tone and subject matter, The Rambler was both lengthier and more serious than its popular ancestor in the genre. It also had a strong element of didacticism. The Rambler contained more sermon-like reflective essays and lacked the Spectator's "dramatic" qualities.[3]
There were many however who religiously read and appreciated the publication. In his biography of Johnson, James Boswell quotes one contemporary review of The Rambler by Bonnell Thornton and George Colman, "May the publick favours crown his merits, and may not the English, under the auspicious reign of George the Second, neglect a man, who, had he lived in the first century, would have been one of the greatest favourites of Augustus."[4][5]The Rambler was widely respected for the quality and power of the writing and the masterful use of language and rhetoric.
Revivaledit
In 1901, Herbert Vivian produced a magazine called "The Rambler" that he intended as a revival of Johnson's periodical. The revived magazine only lasted until 1902.[6]
Referencesedit
^Suzanne Bowness (2012). "In Their Own Words: Prefaces and Other Sites of Editorial Interaction in Nineteenth-Century Canadian Magazines" (PDF). University of Ottawa. Ottawa. p. 24. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
^The Rambler. Vol. I. London: J. Payne. 1752. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.; The Rambler. Vol. II. London: J. Payne. 1752. ISBN9780598852922. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.; The Rambler. Vol. III. London: J. Payne. 1752. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.; The Rambler. Vol. IV. London: J. Payne. 1752. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.; The Rambler. Vol. V. London: J. Payne. 1752. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.; The Rambler. Vol. VI. London: J. Payne. 1752. ISBN9780598852922. Retrieved 5 February 2018 – via Google Books.
^Krapp, George Philip (1920). "Rambler, The" . In Rines, George Edwin (ed.). Encyclopedia Americana.
^Boswell, James. The Life of Samuel Johnson. H. Baldwin and Son, 1799. 209.
^The Student, or, The Oxford and Cambridge Monthly, Volume II. J. Newbery, 1751. 3.
^Courtney, William Prideaux (1915). A Bibliography of Samuel Johnson. Vol. 4. Clarendon Press. p. 35.
External linksedit
From the :
Samuel Johnson: literature, religion, and English cultural politics from the Restoration to Romanticism
Full text of the Rambler essays arranged by date
December 18, 2023
rambler, confused, with, catholic, periodical, 2013, film, same, name, british, magazine, same, name, published, 1890s, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, import. Not to be confused with The Rambler the Catholic periodical the 2013 film of the same name or the British magazine of the same name published in the 1890s This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article July 2016 The Rambler was a periodical strictly a series of short papers by Samuel Johnson Contents 1 Description 2 Purpose 3 Comparison with The Spectator 4 Revival 5 References 6 External linksDescription editThe Rambler was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752 1 and totals 208 articles 2 It was Johnson s most consistent and sustained work in the English language Though similar in name to preceding publications such as The Spectator and The Tatler Johnson made his periodical unique by using a style of prose which differed from that of the time period The most popular publications of the day were written in the common or colloquial language of the people whereas The Rambler was written in elevated prose As was then common for the type of publication the subject matter was confined only to the imagination of the author and the sale of the publication typically however The Rambler discussed subjects such as morality literature society politics and religion Johnson included quotes and ideas in his publication from Renaissance humanists such as Desiderius Erasmus and Rene Descartes His writings in The Rambler are considered to be neoclassical Purpose editThe Rambler was written primarily for the newfound rising middle class of the 18th century who sought social fluency within aristocratic social circles It was especially targeted to the middle class audience that were increasingly marrying into aristocratic families in order to create socio economic alliances but did not possess the social and intellectual tools to integrate into those higher social circles which required great understanding of subjects as listed above in the Description Copies of The Rambler were written in essay form and were made cheaply available to the middle class In his fourth section of The Rambler 31 March 1750 Johnson points out that he would like to Join both profit and delight in one in the prelude that is provide intellectual profit and literary delight to those who read his work This desire to join both profit and delight streams throughout the publications and is particularly resonant of Classical literary design The majority of the subject matter in The Rambler focused more on moral than social issues In this sense Johnson s writings were didactic although he maintains an explorative attitude rather than a strictly instructive voice Comparison with The Spectator editAs its author lamented in its final essay I have never been much a favourite to the publick the publication was not an immediate success Perhaps this was due to Johnson s departure from The Spectator which could be considered his precedent The latter was a periodical published from 1711 to 1712 by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele popular for its light treatment of elevated subjects by enliven ing morality with wit In tone and subject matter The Rambler was both lengthier and more serious than its popular ancestor in the genre It also had a strong element of didacticism The Rambler contained more sermon like reflective essays and lacked the Spectator s dramatic qualities 3 There were many however who religiously read and appreciated the publication In his biography of Johnson James Boswell quotes one contemporary review of The Rambler by Bonnell Thornton and George Colman May the publick favours crown his merits and may not the English under the auspicious reign of George the Second neglect a man who had he lived in the first century would have been one of the greatest favourites of Augustus 4 5 The Rambler was widely respected for the quality and power of the writing and the masterful use of language and rhetoric Revival editIn 1901 Herbert Vivian produced a magazine called The Rambler that he intended as a revival of Johnson s periodical The revived magazine only lasted until 1902 6 References edit Suzanne Bowness 2012 In Their Own Words Prefaces and Other Sites of Editorial Interaction in Nineteenth Century Canadian Magazines PDF University of Ottawa Ottawa p 24 Retrieved 19 November 2016 The Rambler Vol I London J Payne 1752 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books The Rambler Vol II London J Payne 1752 ISBN 9780598852922 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books The Rambler Vol III London J Payne 1752 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books The Rambler Vol IV London J Payne 1752 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books The Rambler Vol V London J Payne 1752 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books The Rambler Vol VI London J Payne 1752 ISBN 9780598852922 Retrieved 5 February 2018 via Google Books Krapp George Philip 1920 Rambler The In Rines George Edwin ed Encyclopedia Americana Boswell James The Life of Samuel Johnson H Baldwin and Son 1799 209 The Student or The Oxford and Cambridge Monthly Volume II J Newbery 1751 3 Courtney William Prideaux 1915 A Bibliography of Samuel Johnson Vol 4 Clarendon Press p 35 External links editFrom the Electronic Text Center University of Virginia Library The Rambler 1 54 The Rambler 55 112 The Rambler 171 208 Samuel Johnson literature religion and English cultural politics from the Restoration to Romanticism Full text of the Rambler essays arranged by date Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Rambler amp oldid 1146977130, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
