A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

It’s a trip through wild, wild country without roads or inns, on horseback, on foot or under sail, where his bed for the night is sometimes a castle, though more often it’s barn straw. It has a wonderfully alive, first-person narrative, written with quill and candle from the years just before Americ......more

Sir, it is surprising how people will go to a distance for what they may have at home. In 1773, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell set out to explore the Highlands and islands of Scotland. Johnson was already past sixty (old in those days), one of the stars in the firmament of English letters. Bosw......more

It’s taken me longer to re-read these two accounts than it took Johnson and Boswell to complete their whole tour in 1773! There are lots of classical, literary and contemporary references to follow up if you have the time and inclination, particularly in Boswell’s journal, which is more concerned wi......more

Let's just say that going on holidays with Samuel Johnson would be a peculiar form of torture. Absolutely fascinating historically though!......more

Read Dr Johnson's part of this volume; don't care enough about Boswell to read his. Johnson's is, as expected, full of witty insights and powerful moral judgments.......more