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Journals of the Western Islands

by Samuel Johnson, James Boswell

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
818926,521 (4.07)1 / 21
Samuel Johnson and James Boswell spent the autumn of 1773 touring through the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland as far west as the islands of Skye, Raasay, Coll, Mull, Inchkenneth and Iona. Both kept detailed notes of their impressions, and later published separate accounts of their journey. These works contain some of the finest pieces of travel writing ever produced: they are also magnificent historical documents as well as portraits of two extraordinary men of letters. Together they paint a vivid picture of a society which was still almost unknown to the Europe of the Enlightenment. Entertaining, profound, and marvellously readable, they are a valuable chronicle of a lost age and a fascinating people. For the first time, Ronald Black's edition brings together Johnson's and Boswell's accounts of each of the six stages of the two men's journey - Lowlands, Skye, Coll, Mull and back to the mainland. Illustrated with prints by Thomas Rowlandson, it includes a critical introduction, translations of the Latin texts and brief notes.… (more)
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» See also 21 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
Johnson's journal needs no comment or critique. All the man's writings are justly classic, even those that are sorely dated. Boswell's journal, of course, is chiefly of interest as it captures Johnson. The great biographer is sometimes tempted to digress, but all in all the Journal makes an essential adjunct to The Life. ( )
  Gumbywan | Jun 24, 2022 |
I read this as part of pre-trip anticipation for a similar trip, and it was interesting to compare it with my own impressions of the highlands and islands. My overall rating of four stars is a split-vote, though. Samuel Johnson's prose reveals a scintillating intellect and original observer. Even when he is wrong, sometimes pig-headedly so, as when he insists that Gaelic (he calls it Erse) was in Scotland a purely oral language until shortly before his own time, he is interesting to read. He shares with Mark Twain an ability to build an argument throughout a long paragraph and then surprise and delight the reader at the very last with the way he turns it.
Boswell's prose on the other hand made me picture him as a status-conscious, obsequious, hypocritical prig. I wondered throughout if Jane Austen used it as a model for the speech of Mr Collins, the stuffy vicar in the employ of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Where Boswell records the same incidents as Johnson, one is struck by how well Johnson is able to select what to record. Yet I stuck with Boswell to the end because of what he records of Johnson's table talk, and this was rewarding. Highly recommended, particularly Johnson's part. ( )
  HenrySt123 | Jul 19, 2021 |
Marvelous preface by Chapman.
  landskip | Jul 26, 2019 |
I give it five stars because it is a beautiful book written by a couple of interesting people and gives excellent accounts of places I've never been. Learning new things always makes me happy. ( )
  NathanielPoe | Apr 14, 2019 |
Price in pounds
  ajapt | Dec 30, 2018 |
Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Samuel Johnsonprimary authorall editionscalculated
Boswell, Jamesmain authorall editionsconfirmed
Black, RonaldEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Chapman, R. W.Editorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Daniell, WilliamIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Levi, PeterEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McGowan, IanEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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I had desired to visit the Hebrides, or Western Islands of Scotland, so long, that I scarcely remember how the wish was originally excited; and was in the Autumn of the year 1773 induced to undertake the journey, by finding in Mr. Boswell a companion, whose acuteness would help my enquiry, and whose gayety of conversation and civility of manners are sufficient to counteract the inconveniences of travel, in countries less hospitable than we have passed.
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This work combines two works by two different authors, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, who together toured the Hebrides in western Scotland. Johnson published his book in 1775, Boswell in 1785. Later editors have often combined the two. Boswell also described the tour more briefly in his biography of Johnson (1791).
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Samuel Johnson and James Boswell spent the autumn of 1773 touring through the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland as far west as the islands of Skye, Raasay, Coll, Mull, Inchkenneth and Iona. Both kept detailed notes of their impressions, and later published separate accounts of their journey. These works contain some of the finest pieces of travel writing ever produced: they are also magnificent historical documents as well as portraits of two extraordinary men of letters. Together they paint a vivid picture of a society which was still almost unknown to the Europe of the Enlightenment. Entertaining, profound, and marvellously readable, they are a valuable chronicle of a lost age and a fascinating people. For the first time, Ronald Black's edition brings together Johnson's and Boswell's accounts of each of the six stages of the two men's journey - Lowlands, Skye, Coll, Mull and back to the mainland. Illustrated with prints by Thomas Rowlandson, it includes a critical introduction, translations of the Latin texts and brief notes.

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