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A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson book cover
18th Century Scottish Journey

A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson

by Samuel Johnson

Audiobook Narrated by Ben Allen 23 hrs and 25 mins

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In 1773, the great lexicographer Samuel Johnson embarked on a remarkable expedition to the remote Highlands and Hebrides with his friend and biographer James Boswell. This volume presents both men's accounts of their three-month adventure through a landscape and culture that seemed almost foreign to these urbane Londoners.

Johnson's philosophical observations and Boswell's more intimate diary complement each other beautifully, offering contrasting perspectives on the same journey. From encounters with Gaelic-speaking clansmen to nights spent in primitive bothies and grand castles, they document a Scotland on the cusp of profound change. Their vivid descriptions of rugged terrain, ancient customs, and Highland hospitality create an invaluable record of eighteenth-century Scottish life.

Essential reading for anyone interested in Scottish history, travel writing, or the golden age of English literature, these accounts remain as engaging and insightful today as when first published.