When in 1773 James Boswell persuaded the great Samuel Johnson—then aged sixty-three—to embark with him on a tour of Boswell’s native Scotland, the adventure resulted in two magnificent books, Johnson’s JOURNEY TO THE WESTERN ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND and Boswell’s JOURNAL OF A TOUR TO THE HEBRIDES. Later published in one volume, the very different travelogues of this unlikely duo provide a fascinating picture not only of the Scottish Highlands at a turning point in its history, but also of the relationship between two men whose fame would be forever entwined.
Johnson offers a magisterial account of a remote and rugged land and of its people, whose traditional way of life, in the wake of the failed Jacobite uprising, was tragically under threat. Boswell focuses instead on the psychological landscape of his famously gruff and witty companion, throwing further light on the friend and mentor whom he later immortalized in the masterly biography that would make his name. Read together, the two accounts form a unique classic of travel writing, a brilliant portrait of two temperamentally different and very talented men exploring a feudal world on the brink of vanishing.
When in 1773 James Boswell persuaded the great Samuel Johnson—then aged sixty-three—to embark with him on a tour of Boswell’s native Scotland, the adventure resulted in two magnificent books, Johnson’s JOURNEY TO THE WESTERN ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND and Boswell’s JOURNAL OF A TOUR TO THE HEBRIDES. Later published in one volume, the very different travelogues of this unlikely duo provide a fascinating picture not only of the Scottish Highlands at a turning point in its history, but also of the relationship between two men whose fame would be forever entwined.
Johnson offers a magisterial account of a remote and rugged land and of its people, whose traditional way of life, in the wake of the failed Jacobite uprising, was tragically under threat. Boswell focuses instead on the psychological landscape of his famously gruff and witty companion, throwing further light on the friend and mentor whom he later immortalized in the masterly biography that would make his name. Read together, the two accounts form a unique classic of travel writing, a brilliant portrait of two temperamentally different and very talented men exploring a feudal world on the brink of vanishing.
For National Poetry Month in April, we are sharing poetry collections and books about poetry by authors who have their own stories to tell. These poets delve into history, reimagine the present, examine poetry itself, provide insight on grief and reflection—from traditional poems many know and love to poems and voices that are new and
In honor of Arab American Heritage Month in April, we are sharing books by Arab and Arab American authors that share their culture, history, and personal lives.
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