A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson
Audio only

A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland & Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson

By James Boswell, Samuel JohnsonNarrated by Robin Laing, Ben Allen
Length23h 25m

About this audiobook

'All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own, and if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.' A beloved travelogue, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides offers a compelling recollection of a trip made by two great companions: Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. Initially published in 1775, A Journey to the Western Isles recounts a three-month trip to upper Scotland that Samuel Johnson undertook with James Boswell a couple of years previously. During their adventure, they discover a novel culture, stunning landscapes and welcoming locals – all described in Johnson's captivating prose. The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, created from excerpts of Boswell's diary at the time, was made available to read after Johnson's death in 1784. Through their compelling conversations on religion, literature and politics, Boswell paints an affectionate portrait of Johnson, celebrating the intellect and wit he was known for. This audiobook edition is wonderfully brought to life by Robin Laing and Ben Allen. Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) was an esteemed literary figure of the eighteenth century: a poet, playwright, biographer, literary critic and essayist. He is famed for having written the first great English dictionary, published in 1755. James Boswell (1740 – 1795) was a Scottish lawyer and biographer. His most famous work, The Life of Samuel Johnson, is a biography of the English writer and his good companion, Samuel Johnson. It is considered as one of the greatest biographies of all time.

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★ 4.0 (4.7K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, StoryGraph
GenreTravel
Length23 hrs 25 mins
Narrated byRobin Laing, Ben Allen
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateSep 11, 2025
LanguageEnglish

More from James Boswell, Samuel Johnson

A Cook's Tour
A Cook's TourAnthony Bourdain5h 50m4.2 (38.2K)$28 · $0.00
The Midwest Survival Guide
The Midwest Survival GuideCharlie Berens6h 6m4.3 (4.9K)$24 · $0.00
The Home of the Blizzard (Annotated)
The Home of the Blizzard (Annotated)Sir Douglas Mawson19h 2m4.3 (1.3K)$2 · $0.00
Local Wonders
Local WondersTed Kooser6h 21m4.4 (978)$14 · $0.00
Over the Edge of the World
Over the Edge of the WorldLaurence Bergreen6h 14m4.3 (23.2K)$24 · $0.00
What Really Happened In Wuhan
What Really Happened In WuhanSharri Markson16h 28m4.3 (4.8K)$40 · $0.00
American Ramble
American RambleNeil King10h 58m4.3 (2.8K)$29 · $0.00
In The Footsteps Of Rama
In The Footsteps Of RamaVikrant Pande, Neelesh Kulkarni9h 45m4.3 (778)$16 · $0.00
Never Leave the Dogs Behind
Never Leave the Dogs BehindBrianna Madia5h 37m4.2 (7.8K)$24 · $0.00
Touch the Top of the World
Touch the Top of the WorldErik Weihenmayer11h 18m4.3 (2.9K)$20 · $0.00
Mud, Sweat, and Tears
Mud, Sweat, and TearsBear Grylls9h 25m4.2 (20K)$29 · $0.00
Northbound
NorthboundNaomi Arnold7h 21m4.3 (669)$24 · $0.00
China Road
China RoadRob Gifford10h 35m4.2 (4.7K)$20 · $0.00
Love, Africa
Love, AfricaJeffrey Gettleman11h 55m4.2 (3.1K)$29 · $0.00
Pasta, Pane, Vino
Pasta, Pane, VinoMatt Goulding9h 9m4.3 (985)$29 · $0.00
Strays
StraysBritt Collins6h 44m4.2 (1.4K)$20 · $0.00
Seven League Boots
Seven League BootsRichard Halliburton11h 53m4.3 (303)$2 · $0.00
Tiny Moons
Tiny MoonsNina Mingya Powles2h 36m4.2 (3.3K)$16 · $0.00
Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog Sled
Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog SledHudson Stuck8h 7m4.3 (258)$1.99 · $0.00
Woodcraft
WoodcraftNessmuk3h 29m4.2 (1.6K)$6 · $0.00

You may also like

The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel JohnsonJames Boswell13h 8m3.9 (1.8K)$2.30
A Little History of the United States
A Little History of the United StatesJames West Davidson11h 8m4.1 (2.8K)$20
The Amur River
The Amur RiverColin Thubron10h 13m4.1 (1.8K)$29 · $0.00
Leonardo da Vinci: Thoughts on Art & Life (Annotated)
Leonardo da Vinci: Thoughts on Art & Life (Annotated)Leonardo da Vinci6h 32m4.1 (823)$1.99 · $0.00
Land
LandSimon Winchester13h 47m3.9 (5.8K)$5 · $0.00
Lost on Planet China
Lost on Planet ChinaJ. Maarten Troost10h 49m3.9 (14.2K)$21 · $0.00
A Journal from Japan: A Daily Record of Life as Seen by a Scientist
A Journal from Japan: A Daily Record of Life as Seen by a ScientistMarie Carmichael Stopes9h 41m4.0 (12)$2 · $0.00
First Impressions of the New World
First Impressions of the New WorldIsabella Strange Trotter7h 30m$2 · $0.00
The Amazing Argentine: A New Land of Enterprise
The Amazing Argentine: A New Land of EnterpriseJohn Foster Fraser5h 52m$2 · $0.00
Due North; or, Glimpses of Scandinavia and Russia
Due North; or, Glimpses of Scandinavia and RussiaMaturin M. Ballou5h 44m$2 · $0.00
Speaking of the Turks
Speaking of the TurksK. Ziya bey Mufti-zada5h 2m$2 · $0.00
A Journey of a Jayhawker
A Journey of a JayhawkerW. Y. Morgan6h 41m$2 · $0.00
A naturalist in Madagascar
A naturalist in MadagascarJames Sibree13h 6m$1 · $0.00
A Year in Paris
A Year in ParisJohn Baxter7h 14m3.7 (433)$24 · $0.00
From the Lakes of Killarney to the Golden Horn
From the Lakes of Killarney to the Golden HornHenry M. Field11h 49m$2 · $0.00
Siam : The Land of the White Elephant as It Was and Is (Annotated)
Siam : The Land of the White Elephant as It Was and Is (Annotated)George B. Bacon7h 22m$1.99 · $0.00
East by West
East by WestSir Henry William Lucy16h 35m$13 · $0.00
Wine Talks
Wine TalksLaura Levy Shatkin11h 10m3.6 (28)$20
Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands
Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich IslandsCharles Nordhoff9h 48m$2 · $0.00
The History of Rome: The Period Anterior to the Abolition of the Monarchy
The History of Rome: The Period Anterior to the Abolition of the MonarchyTheodor Mommsen8h 21m3.9 (207)$1 · $0.00