#25 The Original Odd Couple, Samuel Johnson & James Boswell

Friday – 10:00 a.m.                                                          Winter Term 2009 (14 weeks)
Coordinator:  Jane Silver                                              Co-coordinator:  Dave Edelbaum

Course Description
The names of Samuel Johnson and James Boswell are always joined.  Individually they were masters of the English language.  But together these two comprised the “Odd Couple” of the 18th century Literary English Society.

Samuel Johnson was known by his contemporaries as “Dictionary” Johnson because he compiled the first true dictionary of the English language.  He was also a talented essayist, critic and biographer, and in spite of frequent disabling depression was renowned for his brilliant conversation and wit.  Johnson was already a literary lion when young Boswell first met him in London.  Boswell was fascinated by, and sought out, celebrities.  He recorded all Johnson’s remarks and behavior whenever they were together.  He also collected what he heard from others of Johnson’s circle of friends.  After Johnson’s death he compiled all of these in his celebrated Life of Samuel Johnson.

James Boswell was a distinguished attorney and man-about town, but was often incapacitated by hypochondria, as well as being obsessed by sex.  He is best remembered for his biography of Johnson, but also wrote many other things, including a fascinating journal.

This S/DG will explore the lives and works of both individuals and offer insight into 18th century society, morals and literature.  Each week we will read and discuss a short passage by Johnson, which the discussion leader will choose from our core book, Samuel Johnson, the Major Works.  We will also discuss James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson, abridged, our second core book.  The leader will bring relevant items from 18th century British history into our discussions.

Join us to laugh and learn!!!

Topics
1.      History and Biographical Information on Samuel Johnson.  “London,” poem by Johnson. 
2.      History and Biographical information on James Boswell
3.      The Early Life of Samuel Johnson.  “Debates in the Senate of Lilliput.”  Boswell, Part I:  1709-1747 (Boswell=Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson)
4.      Johnson the Literary Lion.  “The Vanity of Human Wishes.”  Boswell, Part II:  1749-1762
5.      Preface to Johnson’s Dictionary.  The writing of Johnson’s Dictionary of the English     Language
6.      The Fateful Meeting of Boswell and Johnson.  “Rambler” article?  Boswell, Part III. (each “Rambler” article is 3-5 pages,  Group member may choose another short reading from our core book if he/she so desires.)
7.      Johnson and Shakespeare.  Preface to plays of Shakespeare.  Boswell, Part IV 
8.      Johnson’s Idiosyncratic Opinions.  “Rambler” article?   Boswell, Part V
9.      Johnson and Boswell in Scotland and the Hebrides
10.    Johnson’s Close Friends, the Thrales.  “To Mrs. Thrale,” poem.  Boswell, Part VI 
11.    Johnson and Religion, the Theatre.  Boswell, Part VII
12.    Johnson’s Lives of the English Poets.  Boswell, Part VIII
13.    Johnson’s Decline and Death.  Boswell, Parts IX & X 
14.    Field trip to the Clark Library.  Boswell after Johnson’s Death

Bibliography
Core Books:
Boswell, James.  The Life of Samuel Johnson.  Edited and abridged.  Penguin Classics,   1986.
Johnson, Samuel.  Samuel Johnson, The Major Works, including Rasselas.  Oxford          World’s Classics paperback, 2000.

Other Bibliographical suggestions:
Bate, W. Jackson.  Samuel Johnson.  Counterpoint paperback, 1998.
Boswell, James.  Boswell’s Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.  F.A. Pottle and C.H.             Bennett, eds.  New York, 1936.
Boswell, James.  Everybody’s Boswell.  G. Bell & Sons, 1930 (includes Tour of the   Hebrides, abridged).
Martin, Peter.  A Life of James Boswell.  Yale University Press, 2000.
Martin, Peter.  Samuel Johnson, a Biography.  Harvard University Press, 2008.
McAdam, E.L., Jr. & George Milne.  Johnson’s Dictionary, A Modern Selection.  Pantheon            Books, 1963.

History of 18th Century England:
Durant, Will and Ariel.  The Age of Voltaire.  Simon and Schuster, 1965.
Jarrett, Derek.  England in the age of Hogarth.  Viking Press, 1964.
Porter, Roy.  English Society in the Eighteenth Century.  Penguin Books, 1990.
Williams, E.N.  Life in Georgian England.  Putnam, 1967.

  Pre-Meeting:  Thursday, December 11, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

Note:  This S/DG will normally meet on Friday.  Only the pre-meeting day of the week is different.