Record Number: 21179

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Johnson, though remarkable for his great variety of composition, never exercised his talents in fable, except we allow his beautiful tale published in Mrs. Williams's "Miscellanies" to be of that species. I have, however, found among his manuscript collections the following sketch of one: " Glowworm lying in the garden saw a candle in a neighbouring palace,—and complained of the littleness of his own light;—another observed wait a little ;—soon dark,—have outlasted [many] of these glaring lights which are only brighter as they haste to nothing".'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 31 Dec 1791

Country:

n/a

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

James Boswell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

29 Oct 1740

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer and lawyer

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

Scotland

Country of Experience:

n/a

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Samuel Johnson

Title:

[manuscript plan for a fable]

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned
owned or read after Johnson's death

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Source Information:

Record ID:

21179

Source:

Print

Author:

James Boswell

Editor:

R.W. Chapman

Title:

Life of Johnson

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

n/a

Page:

524

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 524, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=21179, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791.