Boswelliana

James Boswell fanblog, I love him Also general 18th-century/Enlightenment along with my research into his friend Andrew Erskine

[boswelliana]

“I shall here put down my thoughts on different subjects at different times, the whims that may seize me and the sallies of my luxuriant Imagination.” — J.B.

Ask Policy

It should be remembered that Opinions are subjective, never absolute fact, and I’m always glad to share and exchange thoughts in good faith. If I appear to be wrong in factual information, feel free to DM me along with your source(s).

Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 🤡

And just so, Jamie Boswell seized me just as well in a little charity store, where their used books were going on sale for cents on the dollar. That day, I was blessed with my first book of Bozzy (and the majestic Johnson) of their journals of their tour of the Hebrides, Riverside edition.

Since then, I've not been able to put down Turnbull's edition of the London journal, nor can I get enough of Pottle's wry, affectionate commentary on Jamie's Younger Years.

June 17, I procured my copy of the Yale Catalogue, which, in my opinion, makes me wholly and unapolagetically, Boswellian (and, if anything, this blog may have anything to say about it.)

Anyway, flowery sentiments aside, I've desperately needed a place to spill my beans of James and make anyone in my orbit less subjected to my waxing poetic of this beautifully imperfect man - and namely from the lens of a modern woman who'd no doubt would have just as easily fallen for his, well, follies. But that type of post is best saved for another time.

This is my introductory/pinned post on the purpose of this blog. I've got a handful of others on Tumblr, humbly devoted to my other hyper-fixations/fandoms. This one already feels far more private to me - after all, there isn't exactly a "Boswell fandom" to speak of, let alone any other simps I'm aware of (at least, apart from the more academic variety who may possess far less romanticised views than of my own.)

This blog is for me to share my thoughts, Feelings™️; the numerous ways I can comfortably admit to relating to him to some degree (parental issues, deep insecurities, the constant questioning of one's self and behavior; deep depressions and melancholy, inherent sexual curiosity and the conduct of one’s self- or lackthereof - and perhaps the ultimate fear of responsibility. The list goes on.)

I don't intend to make this blog an 'academic source' of Bozzy (as much as I might attempt to do so anyway) let alone claim to be one. But what I do intend to do is to stick with true and honest history, by being exceedingly accurate along with exact/proper sources. I will always make known if something is of my own commentary/thoughts, and not that of mindless rhetoric that applies modern ideals/morality to 18th-century culture/context of the time (see this upcoming post regarding such sentiments.)

In short, this blog will be inherently honest and true to Boswell in every sense of the word. I will be incredibly candid, just as he was, and as naturally as it comes to me; I will discuss things that may cause discomfort (with warnings when necessary.) I will not shy away from uncomfortable details of Jamie's life, or from my own thoughts on any subject matter related to him. Sources will be included, as well as an eventual master list of said sources along with recommendations.

[apfel-strudelz]

fop collection!

[strawberrydykke]

opened up ravelry to look at patterns and the very first thing i saw was

The Garment by Robert Cole

[astrobravo]

clipping out this tag from @transmechanicus and humbly taping it to the post because i did holler so much i couldn't leave it in there

[boswelliana]

Happy birthday to the Honourable Andrew Erskine! I'd share a pic of him, but literally the only one in existence (that we know of) is the caricature by John Kay, and atp he's around 45-46. 😅

Andrew is between Sir John Whitfo[o]rd (left) and Major Andrew Fraser (right). I forget who the women are, except known as "two fashionable ladies", lol.

(I also like his deadpan look; "yes, I'm here, just hanging out with my bud John")

The Honourable Andrew Erskine, d. 1793. Brother of the Earl of Kellie by John Kay | National Galleries of Scotland

I'd also just realized that Kay has no caricatures of Bozzy!! Which makes sense, if I am correct, by 1785 Boswell had already moved to London. So I guess instead of one of Kay's goofy caricatures, we get the fancy Reynolds portrait in that same year, lol:

(And I wish we did have a Kay portrait; would've been cool to analyze his Bozzy portrayal and any accuracies to compare with AE and how much was exaggerated, or not. Ah well, dare to dream~)

Whitford and Erskine were often seen together as "the gowk and the titling" (cuckoo bird and tit, essentially lmao) due to their height dynamics; I can't help but think of the same dynamics often referenced between Erskine and Boswell themselves in their youth. 😅

Hugh Paton's John Kay Biographical Sketches, Vol. II, offers a brief bio on AE, starting on pg 57, viewable via Internet Archive:

A series of original portraits and caricature etchings, by the late John Kay, miniature painter, Edinburgh : with biographical sketches and

2 bound volumes in four parts: illustrations, portraits ; 26 cm

[artschoolglasses]

A Gentleman's Embroidered Pale Lilac Satin Suit, probably French, c. 1780

From Kerry Taylor Auctions

[boswelliana]

So Merriam-Webster has this cute Time Traveler feature to see what words first came into print in certain years. I decided to see what words came about the year Bozzy was born.

Unfortunately I can't recall any of these being used in his journals (so far) but when/if I do, I will giggle and kick my feet, lol.

[laryssstrong]

Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte - Napoleon (2023)

[ararebloom]

NAPOLEON (2023) — Matthew Needham as Lucien Bonaparte — hair & makeup tests by lisapantaleoni

[eirene]

Thistle, 1886 Fidelia Bridges

[oranjj5]

i return to drawing the silliest things possible

[brainstreams]

readers remember emotions way longer than lore details

[big-voluptuous-citrus-guzzler]

the illustrations are from Nouveau Larousse illustré, one of the illustrators being Louis Bombled, unfortunately I can't find the other artists, lemme know if you recognize them. I sourced all of them from Wikimedia commons

Fop Dividers/Decals for your blog - 2000 x 100, 150, and 200

lemme know if you want different sizes for these or more idk

[elucubrare]

watching youtube in the 18th century: goddddddd could you skip through the 20 minutes of thanks for your ~most gracious patron her grace the duchess of D--shire, a new maecenas & the loveliest of ladies~ and get to your handel tier listing

[leathernlace00]

[hocketisforeveryone]

SCOTLAND FIRST WORLD CUP WIN SINCE 1990 OH MY GOD

WE DID IT WE FUCKING DID IT

I LOVE YOU SCOTLAND

[beebees-photography]

Day 2 of our trip to the Scottish Highlands, these images are from the Three Sister of Glencoe, three iconic, towering mountain ridges, and its surrounding area. Utterly breathtaking landscape, absolutely beautiful.

[imagineyourhistoricalfigure]

Imagine your favorite historical figure getting the shit beat out of them

[boswelliana]

I don’t have to, because he literally writes about it later lol. 💀 (Seriously though, 50-yo Bozzy getting randomly jumped and having his things stolen in London and how it made him feel breaks my heart. 😭)