The Rest Is History

651. London’s Golden Age: Sex and Scandal in Georgian Britain (Part 2)

March 12, 2026·1h 8m·6-min readnarrativehistory
Podzilla Summary (6 min)
TLDR
This episode explores the complex, contradictory life of James Boswell, a young Scottish nobleman in 18th-century London, whose journal reveals his pursuit of pleasure, fame, and moral guidance through his idolization of Samuel Johnson. The story captures a pivotal moment in British cultu

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Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

James BoswellSamuel JohnsonJean-Jacques RousseauVoltaireLord Auchinleck

Books

The Journal of James Boswellby James Boswell

Topics

European PoliticsHistory Of ScienceLiterary FictionLong Form JournalismNonfictionUs Politics

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