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The Dr Johnson Library

The Dr Johnson Library

By: Samuel Johnson
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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.Public domain
Episodes
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXXI-XXXIII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXXI-XXXIII
    Jul 1 2026
    In which the company ventures to the ancient Pyramids, contemplating their majestic structure and the human desires they represent, while confronting the superstitions inspired by their gloomy recesses. Upon their return, an unexpected misfortune befalls the Princess’s favourite, casting a shadow of grief and urgency upon the travellers' camp.
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    12 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIX, XXX

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXIX, XXX
    Jun 28 2026
    In which the discourse on marriage unfolds with contemplations on the virtues and vices of early and late unions, exploring the interplay of reason, passion, and the inevitable compromises of human life. The arrival of Imlac redirects attention from domestic concerns to the grandeur of history and the enduring lessons wrought by the arts and labours of antiquity, prompting a resolve to visit the majestic Egyptian Pyramids.
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    17 mins
  • Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXVII, XXVIII

    Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia Chapters XXVII, XXVIII
    Jun 25 2026
    In which the Prince and his sister Nekayah discourse on the vexations and responsibilities inherent in greatness, observing that power seldom shelters its possessors from disquiet or injustice, and that true happiness may be more readily found in humble privacy than in lofty dominion. Their conversation then turns to the institution of marriage, debating its propensity for both companionship and misery, and recognising the complexity of human experience which defies simple judgement or contentment.
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    14 mins
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