Classic Serial The A-Z of Dr Johnson - Boswell's Life of Johnson
Dramatisation by Robin Brooks of James Boswell's biography of Samuel Johnson, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Johnson's birth.
Young Boswell comes to London to seek out his hero. He wants to write a biography of the great man 'in scenes', with Johnson's conversation cast as dialogue. Nothing quite like this has ever been attempted before.
Samuel Johnson ...... Kenneth Cranham
James Boswell ...... Paul Higgins
King George ...... David Hargreaves
Louisa ...... Lizzy Watts
Joshua Reynolds ...... Matt Addis
Oliver Goldsmith ...... Stephen Hogan
Lady Di ...... Annabelle Dowler
Davies ...... Philip Fox
Broadcast Sun 6 Sep 2009 15:00 BBC Radio 4
Part 1 of 2
Three readings of extracts from Samuel Johnson's major works, read by Michael Pennington, introduced by Johnson's biographer and Professor of English, King's College, London, David Nokes.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast 8 to 10 September 2009, 3.30-3.45pm
Episode 1
Johnson's early biography, The Life of Richard Savage, and his best-known work, A Dictionary of the English Language.
Episode 2
Two contrasting essays from The Idler series, published weekly in the Universal Chronicle.
Episode 3
Johnson's Preface to The Plays of William Shakespeare and one of his final pieces of biography and literary criticism, examining the life and work of the poet Alexander Pope.
Classic Serial The A-Z of Dr Johnson - Boswell's Life of Johnson
Part 2
Boswell visits Johnson only intermittently, but relies on him more and more. Johnson meets Hester Thrale, who becomes his devoted friend and confidante, and the most important person in his life.
Samuel Johnson ...... Kenneth Cranham
James Boswell ...... Paul Higgins
Hester Thrale ...... Annabelle Dowler
David Garrick ...... David Hargreaves
Mrs Desmoulins ...... Susan Jameson
Joshua Reynolds ...... Matt Addis
Dilly ...... Stephen Hogan
Wilkes ...... Philip Fox
Replies
Three readings of extracts from Samuel Johnson's major works, read by Michael Pennington, introduced by Johnson's biographer and Professor of English, King's College, London, David Nokes.
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast 8 to 10 September 2009, 3.30-3.45pm
Episode 1
Johnson's early biography, The Life of Richard Savage, and his best-known work, A Dictionary of the English Language.
Episode 2
Two contrasting essays from The Idler series, published weekly in the Universal Chronicle.
Episode 3
Johnson's Preface to The Plays of William Shakespeare and one of his final pieces of biography and literary criticism, examining the life and work of the poet Alexander Pope.
160/44; 47 MB total; sound quality excellent
Johnson's Miscellany 1of3 - 2009-09-08.mp3
Johnson's Miscellany 2of3 - 2009-09-09.mp3
Johnson's Miscellany 3of3 - 2009-09-10.mp3
Part 2
Boswell visits Johnson only intermittently, but relies on him more and more. Johnson meets Hester Thrale, who becomes his devoted friend and confidante, and the most important person in his life.
Samuel Johnson ...... Kenneth Cranham
James Boswell ...... Paul Higgins
Hester Thrale ...... Annabelle Dowler
David Garrick ...... David Hargreaves
Mrs Desmoulins ...... Susan Jameson
Joshua Reynolds ...... Matt Addis
Dilly ...... Stephen Hogan
Wilkes ...... Philip Fox
2 of 2
Classic Serial - The A-Z of Dr Johnson - Boswells Life of Johnson -...