Transatlantic Tales
Charles Miller explores British-North American cultural and political connections, through the eyes of nineteenth century Americans such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, William Wells Brown and Margaret Fuller who visited and wrote about Britain.
In an era when news could only travel as fast as a ship, the transatlantic dialogue was surprisingly lively. Political and social reports crossed and recrossed the ocean, an endless stream of travel books was written and reputations were made and shredded.
Meet the characters, visit the places and explore the issues on Transatlantic Tales.
Transatlantic Tales
Nathaniel Hawthorne's pilgrimage to Uttoxeter to honour Dr Johnson
Every year, the town of Uttoxeter in the English Midlands, commemorates the story of Dr Johnson, the great lexicographer, doing penance in the marketplace for his disobedience to his father, who used to run a bookstall there on market days.
The American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne was so taken with the story that when he was in Britain, he visited Uttoxeter to see for himself the site of Johnson's penance.
In this episode, Charles Miller joins the annual commemoration in Uttoxeter and hears how the story of Johnson moved not only Hawthorne but also the Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle and is a living tradition in the town to this day.
With thanks to those interviewed on the show: John Glandfield, the Mayor of Uttoxeter, Peter Selo, Richard Davies and Phil Jones from the Johnson Society and to two A level students from a local school.
Links:
James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson (search for "Uttoxeter")
Nathaniel Hawthorne's chapter, 'Lichfield and Uttoxeter' from Our Old Home.
Thomas Carlyle on Samuel Johnson
Phil Jones, Chairman of the Johnson Society: Samuel Johnson: Reception and Representation, 1750–1960.
Follow Charles Miller on X and his Transatlantic Tales blog.
