James Boswell

British lawyer. Born in Scotland. Author of the masterpiece of biographical literature, "A Life of Samuel Johnson" (1791). He studied law at the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and attended Adam Smith's lectures at Glasgow. He then went to London and published several books of poetry anonymously with fellow writers. In 1763, he met S. Johnson, and became fascinated by his great personality and became friends with him. During that time, he recorded Johnson's words and deeds in detail with his extraordinary memory and sharp observation skills, collected his letters, and used a wealth of materials to write "A Life of Johnson," which is artistically beautiful and unified. During his travels on the continent, he met General Paoli, who plotted the independence of Corsica, and established his reputation as a writer by writing "The Corsican Affairs" (1768). He is also known for his record of his travels to Scotland following Johnson, "A Journal of a Journey to the Hebrides" (1785). In the 20th century, a huge amount of "personal notes," such as diaries containing frank records of people's lives, were discovered and published one after another.

[Taira Zensuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスの弁護士。スコットランドに生まれる。伝記文学の最高傑作『サミュエル・ジョンソン伝』（1791）の作者。エジンバラとグラスゴーの大学で法律を学び、グラスゴー大学ではアダム・スミスの講義に出席。その後、ロンドンに出て文士仲間とともに数冊の詩文集を匿名で出版。1763年、S・ジョンソンと会い、その偉大な人格に心酔し、親交を結ぶ。その間、非凡な記憶力と鋭い観察力でジョンソンの言行を克明に記録し、手紙を集め、豊富な資料を駆使して、芸術的にみごとな統一のある『ジョンソン伝』を書いた。大陸旅行のおりには、コルシカ島独立を企てたパオリ将軍と会見し、『コルシカ事情』（1768）を書いて著述家としての名声を確立。また、ジョンソンに従ってスコットランドを旅行した記録『ヘブリディーズ諸島旅日記』（1785）も知られる。20世紀になって、赤裸々な生活の記録を含む日記など膨大な量の「私記」が発見され、次々と刊行されている。

［平　善介］

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