Boswell’s own life set to be celebrated

He would therefore undoubtedly have been delighted to learn that his literary descendants will converge on the gardens of his old home to pay homage to the man regarded as the inventor of the warts-and-all modern biography at the inaugural Boswell book festival, on the weekend of 20-22 May.

Participants will include Diana Athill, the laureate of old age; the actor Bill Paterson, discussing his memoirs of a Glasgow childhood; and Selina Hastings, author of critically acclaimed biographies of Nancy Mitford, Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham. On the Friday the actor David McKail will perform “Bozzy: an evening of Carnality, Calvinism, Clarit and Conviviality”.

[…]he Boswell Museum and Mausoleum Trust, organisers of the book festival, aim to redress the balance: their ambitious plans include restoring the family graves, and creating a museum in the author’s honour in the derelict Boswell Aisle of the adjoining church.

Kate Vaughan as Lady Teazle in Sheridan’s School for Scandal (1886, Gaiety).

James Sayers, ‘A Peep behind the Curtain at Drury Lane’ in which Sheridan speaks through the aperture in the curtain’, 1780.

Some more Drury Lane love for everyone. And a time to snigger at Sheridan, which were are all wont to do.

Peter Lely, Nell Gwynn, 1670s

Iconography surrounding Nell is fascinating as the 18th and 19th centuries’ obsession with her has falsely attributed so many portraits to her likeness. This one, however, seems to be legit.

Evan Sly, ‘Garrick and Hogarth, or the Artist Puzzled’, 1845.

Kyrle Bellew as David Garrick, ca. late 19th century.

I ought to ask my adviser why the Victorians were so ostensibly obsessed with David Garrick (perhaps because he really set the precedent about how we stage and watch Shakespeare?).