On the other hand, didn't Goethe encourage Johann Peter Eckermann, the tireless amanuensis he met in 1823 whom he knew was recording his words for posterity?

ECONOMIST: Goethe

Scipio's amanuensis, who is taking the great man's dictation, tells his own story at the same time.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

This inevitably raises the question of what proportion of the resulting composition is by the revered genius and what by his latter-day amanuensis.

ECONOMIST: Thank goodness Edward Elgar��s wishes were disregarded

Glikman, a theater critic and historian (and eventually an advisor on film projects), was a devoted friend, serving as amanuensis for articles Shostakovich was obliged to write, always eager to convey scores or recordings for the composer, and sharing his taste in literature and music.

FORBES: Late-Night Reading Calls for Russian Composers, Not IPads