Image credit: Elliott Brown / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · 2009-10-17 ↗
Hodge: Samuel Johnson’s Cat on a Dictionary
Gough Square · Temple → Fleet Street → Lincoln’s Inn · Animal memorial / literary curiosity / public sculpture
Story
Outside Samuel Johnson’s house stands a bronze cat, perched atop a large book. This is Hodge, one of English literature’s most famous animals, immortalised by James Boswell, Johnson’s biographer. Boswell recounted how Johnson personally bought oysters for his cat, not wishing a servant to associate the animal with an irksome chore and thus come to dislike him. This anecdote reveals the peculiar tenderness of the great lexicographer. The sculpture, by Jon Bickley, was installed in 1997. Hodge is depicted sitting on an edition of Johnson’s *Dictionary of the English Language*, and beside him lie oyster shells, a direct reference to Boswell’s famous story. The inscription at the base features Johnson’s well-known description: “a very fine cat indeed”. Visitors sometimes leave coins or small tokens among the shells, a gesture that highlights the enduring affection Hodge still inspires. Though a brief stop, it adds a domestic and deeply human dimension to Johnson's monumental character. It allows us to see the great lexicographer not only as the author of a foundational dictionary, but also as a man concerned with his pet's feelings and the dynamics of his household. Notice too the statue’s position: Hodge faces directly towards the house where he lived with Johnson, as if awaiting his return.
What to look for
Look for the substantial volume of the *Dictionary* beneath Hodge’s paws, the oyster shells next to him, and the inscription “a very fine cat indeed” carved into the base.
Secret detail
Oysters, which we now consider a luxury, were in 18th-century London a very common and affordable food, even for the daily consumption of people and, it seems, cats.
Where exactly
In Gough Square, just outside Dr Johnson’s House, you'll find the bronze cat only a few paces from the door.
Orientation
The statue stands in the open area of Gough Square, immediately by and facing the house.
Why it matters
This small sculpture humanises a monumental literary figure, revealing Samuel Johnson's domestic life and affectionate character, and how personal details can endure in collective memory.
Access & opening
Always externally accessible subject to local works.
Free.
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Level public square/paving.