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1Pepys
Going to London next month, I've never visited Johnson's House off Fleet Street in London. Is the visit worth the £4.50 entrance fee? Thanks for any advice, including your preferred pub in the area.
3Pepys
Ah ah, Foxhunter, thanks. I've already been at the Cheshire Cheese. Actually this is where I first heard of Johnson. It happened when I had to go to the toilets—sorry for the detail—, which were upstairs, and on my way, I saw a page of the Dictionary displayed in a glass-window. In the main room, next to the fire place, there was a table with Johnson's name. I had lunch there—not on HIS table!—, but it was probably my worst food experience in London. Which course would be best (safest) to order in such a place?
4Pepys
REPORT (as requested by Foxhunter):
I enjoyed my visit very much. We were there at 11.00 sharp when the House opened, after we'd visited St Bride's which I found quite interesting (both the nave and the crypt). In St Bride's and in Johnson's House, we were the—almost—only visitors. It makes visits much easier.
There are four floors to visit, each floor consisting in two rooms + landing. On the ground floor, it was curious to see the size of the chain used to protect the main door from intrusions: at night its end could be fitted in a cork-screw device which prevented the burglars to try to lift its end with a hook in case they successed in opening the door ajar.
The first floor has very ingenious mobile pannels (with doors included) which can revolve and transform the floor into a very wide single room or into the usual two rooms + landing.
On the second floor is Johnson's bedroom, transformed into a library, with a copy of the Dictionary available for consultation. There are also two cabinets filled with Johnson's works and a collection of different editions of Boswell's Life of Johnson. In what is described as the room of Barber's (his black servant) is displayed Jonson's will, and also letters which prove that Barber had perhaps difficulties to get hold on the money Johnson had decided to bequeath him. In the landing of this floor, we had a look at a 25-min video featuring Johnson discussing with Boswell and showing him his house. (A fiction of course ;-)
The last floor is the garret. I imagined it differently, wider and with more space under the roof. There are good explanations of the way used by Johnson to include quotations in his Dictionary: when he read something interesting, he underlined the potential entry, wrote the initial in capital in the margin, and his amanuenses afterwards copied the quotation and slashed the capital letter when it was done.
Why, Sir, a very profitable visit indeed!
I enjoyed my visit very much. We were there at 11.00 sharp when the House opened, after we'd visited St Bride's which I found quite interesting (both the nave and the crypt). In St Bride's and in Johnson's House, we were the—almost—only visitors. It makes visits much easier.
There are four floors to visit, each floor consisting in two rooms + landing. On the ground floor, it was curious to see the size of the chain used to protect the main door from intrusions: at night its end could be fitted in a cork-screw device which prevented the burglars to try to lift its end with a hook in case they successed in opening the door ajar.
The first floor has very ingenious mobile pannels (with doors included) which can revolve and transform the floor into a very wide single room or into the usual two rooms + landing.
On the second floor is Johnson's bedroom, transformed into a library, with a copy of the Dictionary available for consultation. There are also two cabinets filled with Johnson's works and a collection of different editions of Boswell's Life of Johnson. In what is described as the room of Barber's (his black servant) is displayed Jonson's will, and also letters which prove that Barber had perhaps difficulties to get hold on the money Johnson had decided to bequeath him. In the landing of this floor, we had a look at a 25-min video featuring Johnson discussing with Boswell and showing him his house. (A fiction of course ;-)
The last floor is the garret. I imagined it differently, wider and with more space under the roof. There are good explanations of the way used by Johnson to include quotations in his Dictionary: when he read something interesting, he underlined the potential entry, wrote the initial in capital in the margin, and his amanuenses afterwards copied the quotation and slashed the capital letter when it was done.
Why, Sir, a very profitable visit indeed!
6Pepys
Why, Sir, I wouldn't like to transform this thread into a travelogue... But since you request it: I've spent the afternoon before at Waterstone's in Gower St., exploring all their books. I wanted to have a look at Ingenious Pursuits recommended by Eurydice (I think) in another thread and in another group. But couldn't find it there. Bought New Hart's Rules to improve my writing.
After Johnson's House, we decided to cross the Thames to the Tate Modern and have a snack there. But it was a bad idea. Very, very crowded. Quite a change from the calm of Gough Square. (But we has a good view on St Paul's from the cafeteria on the 3rd floor.) BTW, The Olde Cheshire Cheese isn't exactly such a bad place. I strongly recommend it for the smoky atmosphere, the fireplace, and Johnson's table. But I remember that when I went there two years ago the waiter wasn't very helpful and my steak-and-kidney pie was a disaster. But it was probably a bad day, as it might also happen in any restaurant in the world.
I am, Sir, &c.
PS: I searched some books for sale in Johnson's House to see if they mentioned a funny definition I had myself found in the Dictionary. I couldn't find it. (But maybe I'm wrong and looked for the SIRLOIN entry which doesn't exist in the Dictionary.) My funny definition is:
SIR. n. s. 4. A title given to the loin of beef, which one of our kings knighted in a fit of good humour.
Is this definition well-known? Or is it even true?
(Edited later) The answer to my interrogation is here: http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/sirloin.asp
PPS: I've listed in my LT review of the Dictionary (see my profile) other funny definitions I have found over the last months.
After Johnson's House, we decided to cross the Thames to the Tate Modern and have a snack there. But it was a bad idea. Very, very crowded. Quite a change from the calm of Gough Square. (But we has a good view on St Paul's from the cafeteria on the 3rd floor.) BTW, The Olde Cheshire Cheese isn't exactly such a bad place. I strongly recommend it for the smoky atmosphere, the fireplace, and Johnson's table. But I remember that when I went there two years ago the waiter wasn't very helpful and my steak-and-kidney pie was a disaster. But it was probably a bad day, as it might also happen in any restaurant in the world.
I am, Sir, &c.
PS: I searched some books for sale in Johnson's House to see if they mentioned a funny definition I had myself found in the Dictionary. I couldn't find it. (But maybe I'm wrong and looked for the SIRLOIN entry which doesn't exist in the Dictionary.) My funny definition is:
SIR. n. s. 4. A title given to the loin of beef, which one of our kings knighted in a fit of good humour.
Is this definition well-known? Or is it even true?
(Edited later) The answer to my interrogation is here: http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/sirloin.asp
PPS: I've listed in my LT review of the Dictionary (see my profile) other funny definitions I have found over the last months.
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