Apart from his brief acquaintance with Samuel Johnson over twelve weeks in 1763, the most decisive experience of the young James Boswell was the period he spent visiting the Continent of Europe for the following two and a half years. The first ten months were passed nominally studying law at Utrecht, a town Boswell found too provincial for his sociable and pleasure-loving nature. Despite forming impressive plans of study, approved by his father and no doubt Johnson, his chief preoccupation became the attractive bluestocking Belle de Zuylen, later known as the novelist Isabelle de Charrière (1740–1805), whom he unrealistically thought would make him a suitable wife. He then embarked on the Grand Tour proper, travelling through Holland, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy, including…
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Citation: Rogers, Pat. "Journal of the Grand Tour". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 September 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39345, accessed 20 April 2024.]
