An Introduction to the Italian Language by Baretti, Giuseppe (1719-1789); Samuel Johnson - 1755: Containing specimens both of prose and verse ... with a literal translation and grammatical notes, for the use of those who, being already acquainted with grammar, attempt to learn it without a master ...

London: for A. Millar, 1755. First edition. Leather. Very Good/The cultural bosses in Milan, Turin and Venice made certain Giuseppe Baretti would never work in Italy after he published a merciless satire of one of their rank. Consequently Baretti moved to London (1751) where he became something of a professional Italian, translating, teaching, writing about and promoting Italian culture. He was welcomed into the circles of Samuel Johnson and Henry Thrale and, was a frequent guest at Streatham Park. (Later, when Baretti was tried for murder after stabbing a pimp to death, Johnson testified as a character witness, and Baretti was acquitted.) Here, in the same year that Johnson published his great dictionary, Baretti issued this selection of passages from 37 celebrated Italian authors with facing translations in English (including Castiglione, Machiavelli, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Michelangelo, Petrarcae, and others, some of them unknown in English before). Baretti went so far as to translate a few of Milton's sonnets into Italian, probably at Johnson's suggestion. Johnson is credited with writing a portion of the Preface, and two extensive footnotes.. Octavo (21 cm); xi, 467 pages. Bound in contemporary speckled calf, double gilt fillet on covers and on each side of the five raised spine bands; two old paper spine labels, one with title in manuscript. Corners very slightly bruised; upper cover and spine extremities rubbed. Manuscript table of contents in contemporary hand on lower free endleaf, and a few textual annotations in ink and pencil in two hands. Broughton Baptist Library bookplate. References: Courtney, p. 73; Chapman & Hazen, p. 139