I've written about Samuel Johnson more than once on this blog--numerous times, actually. There is a mystique that surrounds the grand man, and I'm not alone in thinking this. Here is a clip from Boswell's biography of Johnson:"He received me very courteously; but, it must be confessed that his apartment, and furniture, and morning dress, were sufficiently uncouth. His brown suit of clothes looked very rusty; he had on a little old shriveled unpowdered wig, which was too small for his head; his shirt neck and knees of his breeches were loose; his black worsted stockings ill drawn; and he had a pair of unbuckled shoes by way of slippers. But all these slovenly particularities were forgotten the moment that he began to talk. Some gentlemen, whom I do not recollect, were sitting with him; and when they went away, I also rose; but he said to me,“Nay, don’t go.” “Sir,” said I, “I am afraid that I intrude upon you. It is benevolent to allow me to sit and hear you.” He seemed pleased with this compliment, which I sincerely paid him . . ." (2764)
Boswell paints Johnson as an eccentric, and I've no doubt that this is an honest portrayal. Johnson was famous for his unkempt appearance, yet his words reached legendary status. What really strikes me in this paragraph is the spotlight that Boswell shines on his hero. There might have been others present when he first met the man, but they pale in comparison, and he doesn't remember them. Who would? I suppose it would be the same if I met one of my heroes; they would simply be other admirers, of no consequence compared to the one on one conversation between myself and that person. I really wish I knew a Samuel Johnson, actually.
Who among my favorite authors would fill those unbuckled shoes? As far as living authors, my favorites are Alexancer McCall Smith and Ian McEwan. Ha, wouldn't that be ironic! I needed a laugh. I really did.
p.s. The quote comes from the Norton Anthology of British Literature: the Restoration and the Eighteenth Century.
p.p.s The image is clearly of the gentlemanly Boswell, rather than the slovenly Johnson. It was painted by the esteemed portrait painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds. Elsewhere on this blog, I've posted the Reynolds portrait of Johnson. I was clearly posting very small images at that time. I'm editing in that I've also clearly posted this exact image of Boswell on at least one previous occasion. I'm nothing, if not predictable.




