A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.4 stars; 9 reviews)

Samuel Johnson’s wit and tongue-in-cheek expressions make this record of the economy, education and politicks [sic] of remote settlements an entertaining pleasure. Johnson describes the primary produce, orders of precedence, and the politics of Scotland. Johnson’s data is collected by both his observations and his inquiry. - Summary by Chris Greaves (6 hr 56 min)

Chapters

Inch Keith 5:02 Read by Elijah Fisher
St. Andrews 10:35 Read by Elijah Fisher
Aberbrothick, Montrose 10:31 Read by Elijah Fisher
Aberdeen 12:31 Read by Elijah Fisher
Slanes Castle, the Buller of Buchan 6:26 Read by Elijah Fisher
Bamff, Elgin, Fores. Calder. Fort George 14:03 Read by Elijah Fisher
Inverness 6:41 Read by Elijah Fisher
Lough Ness 12:26 Read by Elijah Fisher
Fall of Fiers, Fort Augustus 5:54 Read by Elijah Fisher
Anoch 18:32 Read by Elijah Fisher
Glensheals 3:59 Read by Elijah Fisher
The Highlands 13:47 Read by Elijah Fisher
Glenelg 3:47 Read by Elijah Fisher
Sky. Armidel 10:25 Read by Elijah Fisher
Coriatachan In Sky 16:15 Read by Elijah Fisher
Raasay 21:18 Read by Chris Greaves
Dunvegan 11:49 Read by Chris Greaves
Ulinish 10:47 Read by Chris Greaves
Talisker In Sky 5:56 Read by Chris Greaves
Ostig In Sky Part 1. 37:14 Read by Chris Greaves
Ostig In Sky Part 2. 35:13 Read by Chris Greaves
Ostig In Sky Part 3. 34:10 Read by Chris Greaves
Col, Grissipol In Col 8:54 Read by Chris Greaves
Castle of Col 33:51 Read by Chris Greaves
Mull 11:23 Read by Chris Greaves
Ulva 3:19 Read by Chris Greaves
Inch Kenneth 52:06 Read by Chris Greaves

Reviews

Not anything like Johnson's other works (such as Rasselas)


(4 stars)

I only listened to the last few chapters because I was reading it. When I found out it was on LibriVox, I started listening to it to help me finish school faster. The reader for what I listened to has a Scottish or Irish accent (I can never tell the difference), and that definitely adds something to the recording! Overall, the account is interesting and straightforward, and it's interesting to hear the little histories he sometimes gives. 👍


(1 stars)

While the second reader may be excellent, the first is a real struggle to listen to. Within the first 30 seconds he mispronounces Hebrides and about every fourth word thereafter. If you’re hoping to hear accurate pronunciations of Scottish locations (or just large numbers of English words in general), this is not the version for you.


(2 stars)

Fascinating book diminished by the first reader. I’ve never criticized a reader, but this one even mispronounced the Hebrides, which is a focus of Doctor Johnson’s writing. If this interests, James Boswell’s account of this Highland journey with Johnson is also on LibriVox.

good


(3 stars)

The second reader is great. It's true that the first reader mispronounces not only Scottish names like Hebrides, Edinburgh and McLeod, but also numerous everyday English words, but he has a clear American accent that is otherwise easy to understand.