OpenTube

Johnson's Final Years | London's Golden Age | EP 4

The Rest Is History

82,623 views

Become a member to watch ad free:
AD FREE | London's Golden Age: The Shadow ...

Who did Samuel Johnson fall in love with towards the end of his life, and why did it break his heart? How did it enrage his old friend James Boswell? And, why did he fear imprisonment in an asylum…?

Join Tom and Dominic as they reach the fascinating, but devastating conclusion of the life of one of Britain’s greatest men, and the completion of his immortality…

Become a member to watch our bonus episode on James Boswell's secret life:
RIHC: James Boswell’s Secret Life | London...

Join this channel to get access to perks:
@restishistorypod

Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook

Social channels:
Instagram: theresthistory
TikTok: theresthistory
https://x.com/TheRestHistory
https://bsky.app/profile/theresthisto...
https://www.threads.com/@theresthistory

Video Editor: Jack Meek
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett
Executive Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley

20 Comments

@CosmicTeapot 6 months ago

The tragedy with the Johnson/Boswell series is that I am utterly unable for the life of me to explain why it's interesting to my friends when they ask what I'm listening to. "It's.... erm.... well.... it's about this Scottish guy in the 18th century who was a huge fanboy of this other English guy who was very eloquent. They go to Scotland and meet other people... sometimes they have rows... but their bromance always seems to prevail..... the hosts of the show are incredibly entertaining."

@actreal-r2h 6 months ago

This compelling story of this friendship shows how ordinary people can have a wonderful tale to tell. These two guys weren't conquerors, weren't discoverers, nor kings nor wealthy monopolists. But they were men with their individual flaws who had rich lives and satisfaction in their companionship. Great job, Tom and Dominic. Experiences such as this is why I keep returning.

@GordonBarranger-s3b 6 months ago

I had no Idea who Johnson and Boswell were ,now I feel iv'e lost 2 very dear friends that I should have gotten to know better in my youth.

@geoffquartermainebastin9302 3 weeks ago

Tom "she thinks, I would like to spread my wings..." (after 12 pregnancies!). Dominic's expression is classic, barely restrained! Wonderful stuff!

@mikoajwisniewski4878 6 months ago

I'm from Poland. My mom was an avid reader of Professor Sandbrook's books about modern Britain, because she spent six years (1963-69) living in London as a teenager. Some of the best years of her life, no doubt. I remember a copy of Boswell's Life of Johnson lying by her bedside. She would have absolutely loved The Rest is History. Alas, she died a year before the podcast premiered... 😢

@Dalaruan 6 months ago

Please do Samuel Pepys!

@Parvissimus-e1y 6 months ago

Tom and Dominic are national treasures.

@eshaibraheem4218 6 months ago (edited)

Would you consider telling us about how Shackleton and his crew survived the sinking of Endurance and made their way home? It's a super story. (Someone in my family sailed with Shackleton and had a strait named after him. )

@MichelleMcEwan-xg6sd 5 months ago

I live in Oban and there is a sign on 'Boswell House' as it's the site of the 'Tolerable Inn' where Boswell and Johnson stayed. I LOVE showing this to visitors - and then thus launching into my 'Why Boswell and Johnstone's tour is so important for Oban' speech.

@Spindrift_87 6 months ago

A compelling portrait of two deeply gifted, deeply flawed (and therefore endearingly human) men. I want to take the hand of the aged Dr Johnson and tell him "Sir, think of the sure retreat you gave to the lame, the blind, the sick and the sorrowful. Did you not thereby do Christ's bidding, to love the unloved? Do not fear damnation for your human frailty, for the Good Lord himself said that his strength is made perfect in weakness. Go in peace to your rest and reward"

@carbonbasedunit3422 6 months ago

Johnson was a truly great and good man. You did him justice.

@zalacainbilbao 6 months ago

Thank you for doing these wonderful podcasts.

@LCR-iy6xq 6 months ago

Simply amazing. Mr. Boswell has gained yet another new reader in me.

One of your best series, and that's saying a lot. Cheers!

@joannemoore3976 6 months ago

This series was bloody splendid

@loggainablar 6 months ago

series on Casanova would be lovely - his memories are a wonderful depiction of 18th century

@andrews527 6 months ago

Please, the English Civil War.

@kevinmeyer6427 6 months ago

Would love for you two to tackle the Dreyfus Affair.

@mcdibbern9919 6 months ago

With all the mad bollocks going on in the world just now this is the perfect antidote. Thank you.

@honoratagold 5 months ago

Regarding what Johnson was so worried about: it's not uncommon for people with ocd to have persistent intrusive thoughts about terrible things, often combined with persistent anxiety about having those intrusive thoughts; that having those thoughts means they desire that thing to happen, and that they're a bad person for it. These intrusive thoughts are often not actually desires, but they do cause the sufferer distress. It's totally possible that Samuel Johnson didn't do anything significant that he was feeling guilty/damned about, but that it was more serious than simply having lust in his heart; these feelings of guilt may have simply been another facet of his mental illness.