author

Andrew Erskine

1739–1793

Best remembered for the lively, witty letters he exchanged with James Boswell, this 18th-century Scottish writer left behind a small but memorable mark on literary history. His published correspondence captures the playful intelligence and sociable energy of Enlightenment-era Edinburgh.

1 Audiobook

Critical Strictures on the New Tragedy of Elvira, Written by Mr. David Malloch

Critical Strictures on the New Tragedy of Elvira, Written by Mr. David Malloch

by James Boswell, George Dempster, Andrew Erskine

About the author

Andrew Erskine was a Scottish writer and man of letters born in 1739 and died in 1793. He is chiefly remembered for his friendship and literary exchange with James Boswell, with whom he co-published Letters between the Honourable Andrew Erskine, and James Boswell, Esq. in 1763.

That book grew out of their correspondence from the early 1760s and became known for its wit, teasing tone, and polished light verse. The letters offer a vivid glimpse of literary friendship and conversation in 18th-century Scotland, especially among young men moving through the cultural world of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Although Erskine is not as widely known today as Boswell, his surviving work still stands out for its charm and humor. For many readers, he remains an appealing minor figure whose voice comes through most clearly in that spirited published correspondence.