The virtual recreation of Ben Jonson's 17th century journey from London arrives in Edinburgh on Tuesday 17th September. Image Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare, an influential dramatist and enthusiastic bon vivant, undertook the three month 'foot voyage' in 1618 with an unknown companion. His account of the journey was destroyed in a fire before it could be circulated or printed. In 2009 Professor James Loxley discovered the companion's narrative of the voyage in the Chester Archives. The project team's blog posts and 'Ben's' tweets have attracted interest and discussion from around the web, with followers submitting pictures of the locations that Ben and his companion passed through. Upon their arrival on the Royal Mile at the Mercat Cross 'the women ran in throngs' to see them, and they were liberally plied with 'aquavitae'. After visiting Edinburgh Castle the pair then set out on a week-long tour of Fife, before returning to Edinburgh for a lavish feast at which Jonson was made an honorary burgess. Jonson's official reception in Edinburgh will be marked by the project team on Wednesday 18th with a dram at the Mercat Cross at 5.30pm. The virtual voyage, which started on the 8 July from London's Bishopgate, is set to continue until October. You can follow Ben's progress and read about the journey so far via the links below: @BenJonsonsWalk Ben Jonson's Walk blog Ben on Facebook Publication date 15 Oct, 2015
