Victoria Glendinning

A man who quite liked women

  • Wits and Wives: Dr Johnson in the Company of Women

    Kate Chisholm

    Chatto, pp. 40

It is noticeable that the kind of young woman that a clever public man most likes talking to is intelligent but totally unchallenging. This is pleasant for both. She gets to pick up useful knowledge, while he can hold forth, happy that she doesn’t have the inclination or firepower to disagree, argue or interrupt. 

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