Johnson Society of London

Programme, October 2025 – April 2026

Venues: All meetings except in December and April will be at Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street and also over Zoom.

11 October, 2.30 pm

Ethical Literary Criticism: Samuel Johnson’s ‘Lives of the Poets’

Professor Edward Tomarken (Miami University)

Chair: Lois Potter

15 November, 2.30 pm

Kitty Clive, or The Fair Songster

Dr Berta Joncus (Goldsmiths, University of London)

Chair: Catherine Dille

13 December

The Annual Johnson Commemoration

2:00 pm, Westminster Abbey. A wreath will be laid on Johnson’s grave by Professor Philip Smallwood.

3.30 pm, Dr Johnson’s House. Richard Thrale Memorial Lecture and reception (details to be advised).

A Time to Laugh: Johnson’s Exuberance

Professor Philip Smallwood (Birmingham City University)

Chair: Julian Currall

10 January, 2.30 pm

Johnson and Smollett: Corrupt Sociability

Dr Emrys D. Jones (King’s College, London)

Chair: John Rollason

14 February, 2.30 pm

Readings of or about Johnson by Society members

Chair: Lois Potter

Details of this meeting will be circulated in due course

14 March

1.00 pm. Annual General Meeting

2.30 pm Johnson’s Poetry as Basis for Biography

Professor Robert DeMaria (Vassar College)

Chair: Michael Bundock

11 April, 2.30 pm

Johnson and Hope

Zandra O’Donnell (Vice-President, Johnson Society of London)

Chair: Michael Bundock

A downloadable copy of this programme can be found here.