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Life of Johnson: An Edition of the Original Manuscript, Vol 2: 1766-76
This is the second volume of the annotated transcription of James Boswell’s manuscript of The Life of Johnson , with its numerous complex revisions and wide array of supplementary materials. The transcription covers the period from 1766, when Boswell returned to Scotland after his eventful Grand Tour and then renewed his friendship with Johnson in London, to 1776, when the two traveled together to Oxford and the English Midlands, visiting scenes of Johnson’s youth. In this decade the personal bonds of friendship between Boswell and Johnson grew stronger, as did their biographical partnership.
The volume records all substantive changes Boswell made in the process of composition, restores lost or deleted material, and identifies compositor’s and other errors. It documents Boswell’s compositional selections and processes at every stage, showing how his compelling—and still controversial—view of Johnson emerged.
Copublished with Edinburgh University Press
The volume records all substantive changes Boswell made in the process of composition, restores lost or deleted material, and identifies compositor’s and other errors. It documents Boswell’s compositional selections and processes at every stage, showing how his compelling—and still controversial—view of Johnson emerged.
Copublished with Edinburgh University Press
336 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 1999
31 people want to read
About the author
James Boswell
1,605 books106 followersJames Boswell, 10th Laird of Auchinleck and 1st Baronet was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the eldest son of a judge, Alexander Boswell, 8th Laird of Auchinleck and his wife Euphemia Erskine, Lady Auchinleck. Boswell's mother was a strict Calvinist, and he felt that his father was cold to him. Boswell, who is best known as Samuel Johnson’s biographer, inherited his father’s estate Auchinleck in Ayrshire. His name has passed into the English language as a term (Boswell, Boswellian, Boswellism) for a constant companion and observer.
Boswell is also known for the detailed and frank journals that he wrote for long periods of his life, which remained undiscovered until the 1920s. These included voluminous notes on the grand tour of Europe that he took as a young nobleman and, subsequently, of his tour of Scotland with Johnson. His journals also record meetings and conversations with eminent individuals belonging to The Club, including Lord Monboddo, David Garrick, Edmund Burke, Joshua Reynolds and Oliver Goldsmith. His written works focus chiefly on others, but he was admitted as a good companion and accomplished conversationalist in his own right.
Boswell is also known for the detailed and frank journals that he wrote for long periods of his life, which remained undiscovered until the 1920s. These included voluminous notes on the grand tour of Europe that he took as a young nobleman and, subsequently, of his tour of Scotland with Johnson. His journals also record meetings and conversations with eminent individuals belonging to The Club, including Lord Monboddo, David Garrick, Edmund Burke, Joshua Reynolds and Oliver Goldsmith. His written works focus chiefly on others, but he was admitted as a good companion and accomplished conversationalist in his own right.
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January 2, 2014
During these years Johnson is writing less and traveling more. Included are reflections on a trip to France, focusing on Paris, Versailles, and the surrounding areas.
During this time period Johnson also took a tour of Scotland and the Hebrides, though Boswell saves Johnson's narration of that for a separate section.
Johnson occasionally reflects on the gathering storm across the ocean that becomes the American Revolution. Johnson is not a fan of the founding fathers as he thinks it is hypocritical to espouse a call for liberty while practicing slavery. On the topic of slavery Johnson is a firm abolitionist and spares no one who is to blame for the endurance of the institution of slavery. This includes the British government and Crown, who passed many laws and edicts protecting slavery in the colonies.
This decade saw the passing of some of Johnson's friends and associates, and remembrances of them are included.
During this time period Johnson also took a tour of Scotland and the Hebrides, though Boswell saves Johnson's narration of that for a separate section.
Johnson occasionally reflects on the gathering storm across the ocean that becomes the American Revolution. Johnson is not a fan of the founding fathers as he thinks it is hypocritical to espouse a call for liberty while practicing slavery. On the topic of slavery Johnson is a firm abolitionist and spares no one who is to blame for the endurance of the institution of slavery. This includes the British government and Crown, who passed many laws and edicts protecting slavery in the colonies.
This decade saw the passing of some of Johnson's friends and associates, and remembrances of them are included.
Displaying 1 of 1 review