The Dr Johnson Library

Samuel Johnson

In The Dr Johnson Library, the works of Samuel Johnson are restored to the ear: essays, poems, tales, criticism, and meditations on the frailty and dignity of mankind. Here the listener may accompany a mind grave without gloom, learned without pedantry, and moral without cant; a companion for hours of solitude, study, reflection, and honest amusement.

Season 1

  1. Episode 1

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters I-IV

    In which the secluded Happy Valley, surrounded by majestic mountains and teeming with natural bounty, serves as the tranquil abode of Abyssinian royalty, yet within its walls the young Prince Rasselas finds himself troubled by an undefined dissatisfaction that no luxury or pleasure can assuage. In reflections both solitary and social, he grapples with the weight of existence, yearning for a purpose beyond mere enjoyment and stirring towards a desire to seek that which might truly satisfy the human soul.

    30 min

  2. Episode 2

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters V-VII

    In which the Prince, confined within the natural and artificial boundaries of his retreat, contemplates escape and finds solace in the study of the wonders that surround him, while encountering the mechanical arts and their ambitious designs. He then encounters a learned poet named Imlac, whose knowledge and experience open new vistas to the Prince’s understanding of the world beyond his peculiar prison.

    18 min

  3. Episode 3

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters VIII, IX

    In which the learned Imlac recounts his early life devoted to the pursuit of knowledge rather than wealth, setting forth on a voyage that broadens his understanding of diverse customs and human frailties. He observes with reflective impartiality the complexities of governance, the vanity of pride, and the varied characters he encounters across distant lands.

    17 min

  4. Episode 4

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters X-XII

    In which the learned Imlac expounds at length on the nature and dignity of poetry, asserting that true poets must study both the vastness of nature and the diversity of human life with impartial and universal eyes. He then recounts his extensive travels through many countries and climates, reflecting with some melancholy upon the hardships and disappointments he encountered upon returning home and the weary resignation of those confined within the Happy Valley.

    30 min

  5. Episode 5

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XIII-XVI

    In which the Prince, assisted by the prudent Imlac, devises and executes a secret plan of escape from the Happy Valley, before venturing into the wider world accompanied by his sister, where they begin to encounter the varied complexities of human society. They arrive at Cairo, a bustling centre of commerce and diversity, where the Prince, newly acquainted with the ways of the world, contemplates the nature of happiness amidst the apparent gaiety and kindness of its inhabitants.

    23 min

  6. Episode 6

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XVII-XX

    In which the Prince experiments with the company of youth devoted to pleasure, only to find their mirth shallow and their conduct unworthy of reason, before encountering a sage whose wisdom on the governance of passions impresses yet is shadowed by personal sorrow. He next seeks solace amidst pastoral simplicity and prosperous hospitality, discovering that beneath appearances of happiness often lie discontent and peril.

    19 min

  7. Episode 7

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXI, XXII

    In which the Prince and his companions seek the hermit whose solitude and wisdom promise a refuge from the world's turmoils, only to discover the perplexities and doubts that solitude itself can breed. In the city, amidst learned disputations, they consider the philosopher's counsel that happiness lies in living according to Nature's universal laws, a maxim both simple and elusive in its application.

    15 min

  8. Episode 8

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIII-XXVI

    In which the young Prince and his sister divide their quest for happiness between the splendour of courts and the quietude of private life, each uncovering complexities rather than comfort in their respective domains. They find that power breeds suspicion and strife, and that domestic affection is fraught with discord, suggesting no easy path to contentment in high station or humble abodes.

    19 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

In The Dr Johnson Library, the works of Samuel Johnson are restored to the ear: essays, poems, tales, criticism, and meditations on the frailty and dignity of mankind. Here the listener may accompany a mind grave without gloom, learned without pedantry, and moral without cant; a companion for hours of solitude, study, reflection, and honest amusement.

Information

  • Creator
    Samuel Johnson
  • Episodes
    8
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Public domain
  • Show Website
    The Dr Johnson Library