'What then is to be done? said Rasselas; the more we inquire, the less we can resolve.' Rasselas and his companions escape the pleasures of the 'happy valley' in order to make their 'choice of life'. By witnessing the misfortunes and miseries of others they may come to understand the nature of happiness, and value it more highly. Their travels and enquiries raise important practical and philosophical questions concerning many aspects of the human condition, including the business of a poet, the stability of reason, the immortality of the soul, and how to find contentment. Johnson's adaptation of the popular oriental tale displays his usual wit and perceptiveness; sceptical and probing, his tale nevertheless suggests that wisdom and self-knowledge need not be entirely beyond reach. This new edition relates the novel to Johnson's life and thought and to politics, society, and the global context of the Seven Years War. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

塞繆爾•約翰遜（1709—1784），英國百科全書式的文壇巨子，集詩人、散文傢、文學評論傢、傳記作傢和語言學傢於一身，是煊赫古今的英語語言大師。他獨力編纂的《英文詞典》是史上第一部真正意義上的英語詞典。他的書信《緻切斯特菲爾德勛爵書》被稱作文人的“獨立宣言”，至今仍為英語散文最著名的範本之一。

《追尋幸福》是約翰遜唯一一部小說。這部薄薄的哲理小說據說僅七日成書，卻成為約翰遜最受歡迎的作品，暢銷歐美幾個世紀，影響瞭後世的簡•奧斯丁、雪萊、喬治•艾略特等許多大作傢，也備受林語堂、梁實鞦、錢鍾書等人推崇。

我的英雄偶像是塞繆爾•約翰遜博士。

——哈羅德•布魯姆

我最喜歡他的談話，佩服他的博學，可憐他的身世，也崇敬他的為人。他的談話不管有理沒理，總很有趣，多警句，有識見，有勁，迴味無窮。（鍾書也愛約翰遜。）

——楊絳