Samuel Johnson is best known today as the subject of the classic of biography, Boswell's Life of Johnson. But his living reputation rested on The Rambler, his interpretation of the then popular genre, the periodical essay series. The serious, even somber texture of The Rambler never achieved the popularity of other, lighter entries in the genre, but met with many admirers for its sense and style, and was widely reprinted in England, Scotland, and America. After the conclusion of the series, its reputation continued to grow, and The Rambler went through many editions, in many languages, during and after Johnson's lifetime. But, for the common reader, The Rambler has long been out of print, except in selections - until now.