Boswell and Dr. Johnson

In 1773, the 32-year-old Scot James Boswell set off enthusiastically with his esteemed (and opinionated) friend, the 63-year-old Englishman, Dr. Samuel Johnson, on an 83-day tour of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This was during a period of immense social, economic and religious change within Scotland and the observations recorded by the two companions are a good record of the people, their attitudes and places during that time, or at least of the comparisons between the society of late 18th-century Scotland with that of two well-to-do London gents. Although most of their exploits took place in the north of the country, especially on the Isle of Skye, they spent some time in Boswell's home county of Ayrshire.