652. London’s Golden Age: The Ghosts of Culloden (Part 3) - The Rest Is History Recap

Podcast: The Rest Is History

Published: 2026-03-16

Duration: 3895

Guests: Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook

Summary

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook delve into Samuel Johnson's journey to the Hebrides, exploring his interactions with Scottish culture and the historical significance of the sites he visited. They discuss Johnson's prejudices, his encounters with local figures, and the enduring impact of his and Boswell's travel writings.

What Happened

Samuel Johnson's 1773 journey to the Hebrides with James Boswell is portrayed as one of the most daring expeditions of its time. Despite his well-known anti-Scottish prejudices, Johnson ventured into the Scottish Highlands, driven by a desire to explore remote and wild territories. His observations during this journey were later chronicled in his book 'A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland,' which is now considered a classic in travel literature.

Johnson and Boswell's travels mirrored the escape route of Bonnie Prince Charlie post-Culloden, adding a layer of historical intrigue to their adventure. They deliberately avoided the battlefield of Culloden due to its sensitive nature but visited Fort George, a symbol of post-Culloden pacification efforts in the Highlands. Johnson's reflections on the decline of St. Andrews post-Reformation and his impressions of Edinburgh's intellectual climate during the Scottish Enlightenment were notable highlights of the journey.

During their travels, Johnson and Boswell encountered various figures, including Sir Alexander MacDonald, whose lack of traditional Highland hospitality disappointed them. They also met Flora MacDonald, celebrated for aiding Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape, with Johnson staying in the same bed as the prince. Boswell's fascination with mortality was evident in his interactions, such as inspecting a highwayman's body and interviewing a Gaelic-speaking old woman through an interpreter.

The trip was not without conflict; Johnson and Boswell experienced a falling out over a misunderstanding involving a pony and a guide. Boswell also recalled two painful episodes: a severe retort from Johnson during a moment of sarcasm and a disagreement between Johnson and Boswell's father at Affleck over historical figures Charles I and Oliver Cromwell.

Boswell's role as a 'documentary maker' was crucial in capturing the essence of their journey, including moments like Johnson's stay in Bonnie Prince Charlie's bed and his musings in the ruins of Iona. The journey had a profound impact on both men, with Boswell planning to use the experience as material for a future biography of Johnson.

James Boswell was aware of a rival biographer from Wales, who was more familiar with Johnson than he was, adding pressure to his documentation efforts. Despite the personal and cultural challenges, the journey significantly contributed to the historical narrative of the Anglo-Scottish relationship and the Romantic fascination with the Jacobite uprisings.

Key Insights