The Companionship of Dr. Johnson

[@dalepiper6693]

Interesting I need to read Boswell’s Life of Johnson.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Completely concur! Knowing more about creators of art, be it poetry, painting or music is a gateway to their comprehension. Grazie 🙏 SF.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Absolutely!

[@AndrewLeigh-v1l]

Malcom love your podcast well done it's smashing 😂

[@juliewells4310]

You got cut off at the end, but these "spells" are always so interesting.

[@delmaeyancy09]

Thank You for sharing your time.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

My pleasure!

[@jamesmoore3002]

Thank you so much for this. I was curious about the portrait on your shelf and I thought I had seen it somewhere. I have done a tiny bit of study on the history of the English language and I believe that is where I was introduced to Johnson. I love your spells. What do you think about taking us for a walk beyond your door, beyond that window? Let us see the English countryside. Take us for a walk around where you work in the school, in the church. Let us see. God bless and reward you for your blessing to us.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks, those are interesting ideas, though for the moment i am, as they say, confined to quarters

[@williamrees6662]

Great video, thanks! I notice lots of pipes and tobacco tins. As a pipe smoker myself, I wondered if you would do a video on your pipes?

[@josongeorge5]

Thank you for sharing. Could you please read any Goldsmith poem?

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Yes, I'll return to Johnson and his circle at some point at which point we could have a Goldsmith poem!

[@davidbrown5962]

Very entertaining - I can imagine you in the middle of a circle like Johnson's expatiating at large about the poets. But Johnson's life is much more read about than his poetry is read; maybe you could comment on that.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

its true, but its equally true that when you read Boswell you are in fact getting very large amounts of verbatim Johnson, from the books as well as the conversation!

[@northcountryfisher2121]

I found an old copy of Johnson's 'Idler' last year; it was from the late 1700s, i only paid £10 for it as it was slightly worn ... bargain! - Shaun

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

great find! its amazing what turns up if you keep looking!

[@peterforrest3424]

Very good.i am a lichfield man

[@r.pittman3]

...what strikes me a bit unexpectedly-from your brief reading- was the capacity of Johnson to critique himself as a writer! his inner observer was truly "on" and this speaks to all sorts of other capacities he would then be prone to have, to be aware of things, foibles and glories, in other folks too... an ability to see others - well and clearly- and with understanding...and this for me, eliminates any wish to see Johnson as a sort of blowhard or egoist...

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

yes I agree with that, he was critically self aware and not in the least an egotist

[@MohammedJinaMohammedJina]

Hi