The following publications resulting from the Yale effort, most of which can easily be obtained from the Yale University Press, the Edinburgh University Press or the out of print booksellers are listed below, in order of publication, with a brief synopsis. I hope that this whets the appetite of those interested in frank, candid and truly human biography and provides some repetitive pleasure to those already familiar with Boswell.

With the completion of this edition Boswell has defeated the fate of anonymity and lives today as vigorous and vibrant as ever. Stimulated by the events of his time, probing the thoughts of the celebrities that he made it his business to meet he presents a true picture of eighteenth century Britain.

At the age of 22, Boswell goes to London in an attempt to obtain a commission in the Foot Guards, the unit that is the sovereign’s body guard and is stationed permanently in London, has an affair with the actress Louisa, meets Johnson who immediately takes a liking to him and volunteers to travel with him to Harwich where Boswell sets off for Holland to study law. This book was issued as a Book of the Month Club selection and extremely successful, selling more than one million copies. It is written (as all the volumes are) in modern style with few eighteenth century or Scots expressions. It is very readable with the narrative flowing like a novel although it uses the chronological sequence retained in all of the journals. It is completely factual and uninhibited. It is the first time dialogue was used in an autobiography, as well as, having stage directions provided to clarify and reflect realism in conversations.

Went to Utrecht to study law under an arrangement with Lord Auchinleck, entered Dutch society, draws up an “Inviolable Plan’ which he intends to follow, meets Zelide a beautiful Dutch woman who is too modern for her time.

Visits various German courts, tests his persuasiveness by meeting Rousseau without offering his letters of introduction. Later spends time with Voltaire. Gains their advice as to how to live, discusses their philosophies and religious beliefs gaining their sincere friendship.

Sketches of Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, David Garrick. Other miscellaneous essays.

Meets John Wilkes who was forced to flee from England, relations with Lord Mountstuart who is the eldest son of Lord Bute the Prime Minister, visits Vesuvius, various love affairs, visits Corsica where he makes a life long friend of their leader Pasquale Paoli, relationship with Therese Le Vasseur who is Rousseau’s mistress.

Publishes “An Account of Corsica”, becomes involved with many women with whom he considers marriage including the gardener’s daughter, an Irish Heiress, a Scots heiress, and his cousin. Marries Margaret Montgomerie, makes two visits to London, conversations with Johnson, attends the Shakespeare Jubilee, becomes involved in the Douglas cause, leads a rioting mob in Edinburgh.

His life as a married man, advocate, defends criminal causes, birth of children, dispute with Lord Auchinleck, relations with his stepmother, trips to London, Johnson, Goldsmith, Garrick, Oglethorpe, becomes a member of The Club, trip to the Hebrides, hypochondria, attempt to resuscitate his convicted client John Reid, the sheep-stealer.

Challenged to a duel, tests his honor, legal practice, bouts of hypochondria. Spends his time drinking, gambling and devotes himself to vice. Conversations with Johnson. He arranged a dinner with Johnson and John Wilkes to see their reaction since in most of their ideas and principals they were diametrically opposite. Interviews and has an affair with Margaret Caroline Rudd an adventuress, criminal and courtesan.

Is gay and happy, many social occasions, months of self restraint, long periods of sobriety with lapses, handles his legal duties in the House of Commons and House of Lords, long discussions with Johnson, a meeting with The Club, interview with the dying David Hume, continuous religious speculations, lion hunting activities, many deaths of relatives and close friends.

Difficulties with his insane brother John, jaunt to Carlyle, visit to London, continuing death of intimates, problems with Lord Auchinleck because of his stinginess, continued attempts to regulate his life, middle life reflections, declining law practice, thoughts of leaving Scotland, continued drinking, etc., conversation with George lll, relations with Henry Dundas and Edmund Burke, attends a hanging, wife finds some of his journals and is shocked, sickness and death of Lord Auchinleck, Boswell becomes Laird.

Obsession with death, middle years, pamphleteering, political ambitions, trip to London, executions, devotion of Margaret Montgomerie, law practice in Scotland, Johnson’s sexuality, Johnson’s death, conversations with Lord Kames, work on the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, deepening friendship with Joshua Reynolds, account of the Handel celebration, flirtation with Anna Seward, renewed liaison with the notorious adventurer Margaret Rudd.

Public reaction to the Tour of the Hebrides, moves to London, starts the Life, lack of business success, becomes Recorder of Carlyle, disputes with Lord Lonsdale, failure of political ambitions, wife very ill, his final parting, London society, celebration of George III’s recovery of his health.

Concluding volume, final years, completion of the Life, relationship with Edmond Malone and others, becomes a member of the Royal Academy Club, visit to his boyhood friend (Temple), interest in the Girl from Botany Bay, final days.