I can't believe it's taken over a week to get around to telling you about this, but the life of an 18th-century multimedia actress is sometimes a busy one. Still, there's been plenty of nice outings to places such as London and
Liverpool of late and one of the best events that Mr Woffington and I attended recently was the launch of Dr Johnson's brand new Dictionary of Modern Life: a glittering affair at his home in
Gough Square.
For those unaware of Dr Johnson's recent activities (though I've
mentioned them a few times), in 2009 he reemerged
on Twitter and began publishing an entertaining stream of definitions on the parlous state of the modern world (a recent example: "Bestival (n.) Island Prison to which London does exile its many Fops for an annual Trial by RAIN-FALL"). Needless to say, these are now available
in book form, published by the charming people at Square Peg (an imprint of Random House).
Anticipation was high when we arrived in the Great Cham's hallway and deposited our coats in the gift shop; sadly nobody had chanced full 18th-century dress, but we were led to believe that many personalities from the Twittersphere (@Discombobul8er, @CherylKerl, @SirAlanChaffing etc.) were there - though it was tricky getting to know who was who. Both wine and canapes flowed, though, and the author gave an entertaining speech. We also enjoyed a chat with the Chairman of the Johnson Society of London and the gentlemen of
The Quietus, who are currently
publishing excerpts of the book.
As the evening progressed, wine flowed freely and you must forgive me for not remembering a great deal more (there were some sore heads the next morning)... except to say that it was a rare pleasure to meet some digital counterparts in the real world. I believe that @Discombobul8er has also published an account of the evening
here.
Photographs © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.
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There can be no doubt of Dr Samuel Johnson's great achievement with his Dictionary: an astonishing work of scholarship that transformed our language. Now, after a hiatus of over 250 years, I am pleased to reveal that our favourite lexicographer has been putting the finishing touches to a brand new dictionary called Dr Johnson's Dictionary of Modern Life. The result of much painful labour at his home in Gough Square, the book will accompany Dr Johnson's popular Twitter feed and promises to address 'Divers Contemporary Phenomena, from Top Gear Unto Twitter'. I do not know as yet when this work will be released to the public, but I feel sure that it will meet with your warmest approbation. 
