Johnson rents a house near Lichfield and there establishes a “private academy” for instructing boys in Latin and Greek. Johnson’s lack of notoriety at this time means that only a handful of boys enroll; among them is David Garrick, one of Britain’s future most celebrated actors and later a key member of Johnson’s circle. The academy lasts only a year and a half: Boswell argues that Johnson’s lack of success in teaching young people by rote was due to the unconventional nature of his own education, and more immediately, the boys fail to respect Johnson and make fun of both him and Tetty.

During this time Johnson begins working on a tragic play called Irene. His friend Mr. Walmsley is impressed with the work in progress and encourages Johnson to try to have it produced on the stage. To this end, Johnson travels to London, leaving Tetty in Lichfield, and settles in the house of a Mr. Norris. Boswell characterizes this period as one of “narrow circumstances” and “cold obscurity.” Johnson lives a frugal lifestyle while trying his best to establish social connections.

One particularly fruitful connection is with Edward Cave, the editor of The Gentleman’s Magazine. Johnson writes to Cave with proposals for literary works to be written.