James Boswell - Grateful: Musings on THE Life & My Own Life

[Tools101]

Yesterday I bought the letters of the great Doctor. Fascinating, humane...

And yes, Boswell's Presumptious Task is a very nice reading

Ben

[benigerb]

Couldn't agree more... Johnson in himself is a world to explore - an entire universe, actually, as Boswell had perfectly guessed!!!

[jaloysiusm8]

Thanks--am currently reading the Life for the first time, and I find it astonishing. There aren't enough Post-it flags in the world to mark all the quotable passages...

A question for after I finish: have you read/do you recommend the book "Boswell's Presumptious Task"?

[benigerb]

Wow, thanks - great to know other boswellians! I agree about The Life, it's a neverending source of joy and teachings... and yes, I recommend Sisman's book, it's a very enjoyable read; it's clear and modern, and dwells on many particulars and details that you can dig deeper in by further reading on Boswell and of, course, from his enlightening journals, which I really recommend as a wonderful study on biography writing (the Life is there as work in progress) and on human nature...

[pedrogas79]

I own five different editions of the life of samuel johnson in my library....so i was familiar with all the pictures you posted. Thanks again:)

[benigerb]

Wow, that's great... so far I only own 4, but I am looking forward to buy the Croker version :)))

By the way - have you ever read the "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides"? in its own way, I believe it to be as great a masterpiece as the Life... when I visited Scotland, I retraced a part of that wonderful journey, too! It's a magical reading, like all of James Boswell's diaries are... have you ever read any of his private journals (those incredible 12 volumes re-discovered in the '50s)?

[pedrogas79]

I have read only one volume of the journals...well...Im pretty busy right now reading some other stuff.....by the way...how is your book project going? You said you were writing a book...i hope it soon comes into completion good luck:)..

[benigerb]

Thanks for your post - yes, my book is finished now: i have written a theatrical play on James Boswell and I just hope someone will soon have it performed on stage... your wishes are most welcome by now :))) I hope you will soon have teh time and chance to plunge into either one of Boswell's journals or maybe Adam Sisman's book on Boswell and the Life... let me know about your next discoveries!!!