Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

Samuel Johnson was a well known literary figure in England. Johnson was an author, lexicographer, biographer and critic. Johnson has been quoted more than any other English author with the exception of Shakespeare. Much of Johnson's fame is attributed to the biography done by Boswell. The biography centers on the latter part of Johnson's life, thus Johnson has been seen more as a gruff society figure than as the struggling and poverty-stricken writer he was for much of his life. In 1773 Johnson and his friend James Boswell traveled around the coast of Scotland. Each wrote about their 83-day journey. Johnson wrote beautiful descriptions and analysis of the rugged region he visited.