Boswell's Presumptuous TaskHamish Hamilton, 2000 - 392 pages James Boswell died a disappointed man, considered by his contemporaries to be a foolish failure. Yet today his life of Johnson is esteemed as the template for modern biography and Boswell himself is regarded as a formidable, if somewhat anti-heroic intellect in his own right. Sisman provides not only an account of Boswell's life but a creative investigation into how Boswell managed to be simultaneously so risible and outstanding and, by extension, an investigation into the nature of biographers and biography. Making use of Boswell's letters and journals only recently uncovered and unhindered by the constraints of academia, Sisman's book depicts Boswell and the 18th century world he lived in with clarity and frankness. |
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afterwards Alexander Boswell anecdotes Anna Seward appeared asked became began Bennet Langton biography Boswell decided Boswell felt Boswell papers Boswell took Boswell wrote Boswell's book Boswell's journal Burke Burney Corresp Corsica Court of Session Courtenay diary Dilly dined dinner Dr Johnson Dundas Edinburgh Fanny Burney father February Fettercairn Forbes Hawkins Hawkins's Hebrides Hester Thrale honour hope Isham James Boswell JB to WJT John Johnson's conversation Johnson's death Johnson's letters Johnsonian King Langton later literary living London Lonsdale Lonsdale's Lord Auchinleck Lord Lonsdale Macdonald Malahide Castle Malone Malone's manuscript March marry mind never North Briton November Percy perhaps Piozzi Pitt poem poet printed published record remark replied Reynolds Samuel Johnson Scotland Scots Scotsmen seemed Sir Alexander Sir Joshua Talbot Temple Thomas Percy thought Thrale told Boswell Tour volumes weeks wife Wilkes William write written young ΟΥ