As this volume represents to the reader two individual books by distinct authors of the same journey which they made together, this review concerns only a provisional one having read but the first of the works by Samuel Johnson entitled 'A journey to the western islands of Scotland', and not yet his companion's account.

This book maybe unique in my experience as being the first to paint such a picture in fine syntax and eloquent literary skills whilst at the same time offering such an account of unmasked snobbery, bigotry, racism, sectarianism and absolute rudeness to the people of Scotland. What a complete ass Mr Johnson was.

The second book by Boswell entitled 'The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides' does it's best to paint as kindly a picture of Mr Johnson as possible but taken by itself, Johnson's account is without salvation.

It appears it was received unkindly by many in Scotland who did not have to worry about watching their words so as not to upset anyone in their circle of friends. On the whole the Boswell account is a jolly old read. Many of Johnson's prejudices seem to have rubbed off on his apprentice but not so much as to make the journal an 18th century pravda.

The Everyman edition which holds both works in a single volume is quite beautiful and helps to make the read an enjoyable one. It is interesting to read both works and see for oneself the deeply held religious and cultural prejudices that pervaded society in the British Isles at the time.

As a work of literature I recommend them both. As a Scotsman, I give a health warning to my compatriots before they open Johnson's account. ( )

For a brief overview see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Journe... - A charming and fascinating account of traveling through Scotland when it was still "primitive" (in parts) - this is what Johnson went to see, but he laments they came "too late" .. Scotland was already changing quickly. But they did find some of the "Old Scotland"

It is not only a travel narrative but intermixed with social criticism on issues of education in Scotland, religion and other issues of the day related to the progress of the country.

Parts that are memorable include the monastic ruins at Iona, the trip through the Isle of Skye along the tops of ridges with no roads, the story of the imprisoned Scotsman given salted beef and an empty glass and left to die, the one story stone huts, and 2-story stone "houses", the caves along the coasts.

Even though it is a short book I would like to create an abridged version that removes the social commentary (now largely outdated) and sticks to the travel and site seeing only which is the highlite of the book. ( )