Robert’s Reviews > The Life of Samuel Johnson > Status Update
Robert
is finished
not a great spot to be reading when laid up with Covid-19. Johnson is sick, miserable, & at the mercy of 18th century European medicine. Johnson wrote a very detailed description of his stroke symptoms, & I couldn't help but think of all of the treatments we have today for strokes. I hear how you have to treat a stroke early, but in Johnson's day it didn't really matter, since there was no hospital as we know it.
— Dec 07, 2023 11:58AM
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Robert’s Previous Updates
Robert
is on page 1204 of 1245
Johnson goes Suze Orman at Boswell after Boswell inherits his father's estate. Boswell hints at some sort of falling out between Johnson & Mrs Thrale, which he admits he was not aware of at the time.
— Jun 04, 2023 12:16AM
Robert
is on page 1180 of 1245
Johnson is sad about his friends dying, and feeling depressed about his poor health.
— Jun 02, 2023 07:30PM
Robert
is on page 1123 of 1245
"You will have the goodness, I am sure, to pardon my recalling this stipulation to your recollection, as I should be loth to appear negligent of that obligation which is always implied in an epistolary confidence" - Warren Hastings
— May 02, 2023 11:20PM
Robert
is on page 1104 of 1245
Have to admit this part discussing Johnson's manuscript edits for "Lives of the Poets" is pretty boring. The letters from Johnson's research for the "Lives of the Poets" is more interesting, in that it showed what kind of work went into 18th century literary research (e.g. asking Oxford librarians for sources, asking acquaintances of the poets for anecdotes, &c).
— May 01, 2023 10:30AM
Robert
is on page 1087 of 1245
"Sir, your wife **under pretense of keeping a bawdy-house,** is a receiver of stolen goods."
— Apr 26, 2023 09:18PM
Robert
is on page 1050 of 1245
"Never impose tasks upon mortals. To require two things is the way to have them both undone."
— Apr 24, 2023 10:04AM
Robert
is on page 1002 of 1245
I have to respect Boswell for his dedication to tracking down anecdotes & minutiae not just about Dr Johnson, but also many other people as well.
— Jul 14, 2022 06:37PM
