This work, published anonymously, is a collection of biographical sketches of important literary figures of the eighteenth century, including Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, and Oliver Goldsmith. The author draws on original letters and memoirs in order to provide a more intimate view of their lives and works. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the history of English literature and the lives of its major figures. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.