Samuel Johnson

Context:

Johnson is describing his journey to the Hebrides in this book, which is described as one of the great classics of travel literature.

Context:

Described as a novella Johnson hurriedly wrote to pay for his mother's funeral, about a prince searching for the key to happiness. The hosts note 'you can still read it to this day, it's actually great' and 'pleasantly short.'

Context:

Tom Holland opens the episode by reading a passage from this poem, published in 1749, which describes Swedish Charles XII as a classical hero figure.