約翰生（SAMUEL JOHNSON，1709-1784），英國十八世紀著名詩人、散文學、批評傢和詞典編撰傢。《幸福榖》（The History of Rasselas Prince of Abissinia）是他唯一的小說創作，以思想敏銳、構思精巧，筆力雄健、文詞優美著稱，在約翰生時代便廣為流傳，至今仍然是西方經典之文學作品之一。

This book comes with an introduction and notes by Michael Irwin, Professor of English Literature, University of Kent at Canterbury. "Rasselas" is a provocative fable about 'the choice of life'. Bored by the endless contentment of 'the happy valley' in which he has been brought up, Prince Rasselas escapes with his sister. They rove the world searching for the secret of happiness and striving to find the ideal way to live. Repeatedly the pleasures they glimpse dissolve on closer acquaintance, and the great men they admire prove flawed. Where, then, are happiness and purpose to be found? These questions, of course, remain open for each generation; but none has discussed them with more wisdom and humanity than Dr. Johnson. "Rasselas" is a searching and often darkly humorous commentary on the human condition as well as a classic of English prose.