#biographersday — Public Fediverse posts

@bookstodon

The Many Lives of James Boswell

Terry Seymour’s 2022 talk for the Edinburgh Bibliographic Society, discussing his extraordinary collection of books, papers, & artworks identified with James Boswell – including private papers, portraits, personal books, & more

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSE-cbLmbTM

#Scottish #literature #biography #SamuelJohnson #JamesBoswell #18thCentury #BiographersDay

@bookstodon

Was James Boswell just an idiot who had the good fortune to meet Dr Johnson and write his biography? Or is this “Samuel Johnson” actually a brilliant dramatic character created by Boswell?

Read Jorge Luis Borges’ “A Lecture on Johnson & Boswell”

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https://www.nybooks.com/online/2013/07/28/lecture-johnson-and-boswell/

#Scottish #literature #biography #SamuelJohnson #JamesBoswell #18thCentury #BiographersDay

@bookstodon

“The Life of Samuel Johnson was an instant sensation. While the works of Johnson were quickly forgotten, his biography has never been out of print”

—When the Worst Man in the World Writes a Masterpiece: James Boswell & the nature of genius

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https://www.fantasticanachronism.com/p/when-the-worst-man-in-the-world-writes-a-masterpiece

#Scottish #literature #biography #SamuelJohnson #JamesBoswell #18thCentury #BiographersDay

—“Mr. Johnson, (said I) I do indeed come from Scotland, but I cannot help it.”
—“That, Sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen cannot help.”

May 16 is Biographers Day – marking the date in 1763 when James Boswell first met Samuel Johnson

@bookstodon

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https://lithub.com/of-course-samuel-johnson-met-james-boswell-in-a-bookstore/

#Scottish #literature #biography #SamuelJohnson #JamesBoswell #18thCentury #BiographersDay