Right now, I am investigating Samual Johnson, the dictionary man:
Dr. Johnson wrote it. And his life is known also because James Boswell wrote his biography.
what started me on this was this podcast series:
It will take awhile to read or listen to the various books on the subject but hey it keeps me busy.
But one side issue: In his middle age, Johnson spent a lot of time dining with and even living with the Thrale family.
Since Boswell didn't like her, it takes a bit to find little things about her life, such as her husband cheated on her and she had many many pregnancies (10 or 12) of which only four lived to adulthood.
Feminist history might revive her place, and how her life echoes the limitations of women's choices in Georgian England.
Ironically, she escaped from the straight jacket of expectations after her husband died and she married for love: That was bad enough, but her choice was an Italian musician who had taught her children. She later moved to Italy etc. and yes she did write both a history of Johnson and books of travel.
However she was condemned for this marriage by society, mainly because it meant she no longer was essentially a nursemaid to Johnson, but also because it meant she deserted her daughters.
No comments:
Post a Comment