'Yesterday my Elizabeth and I went to the most remarkable poets' Reading I have ever attended. It was held at Lord Byron's beautiful house in Piccadilly... I was moved by Mr de la Mare reading five poems of great beauty. Elizabeth was thrilled at seeing for the first time W.H. Davies, a strange tiny poet. He read "Love's Silent Hour" and three others. Hilary [Hilaire Belloc] read "The Poor of London" and "the Dons". He got a big reception'.
Unknown
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Hilaire Belloc
'as an office boy, Pritchett tried to read widely and dreamt of an escape to Bohemia. But his knowledge of the Latin Quarter was gleaned not from Flaubert, only from third-raters like George du Maurier, W.J. Locke, and Hilaire Belloc'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Sawdon Pritchett Print: Book
'Friday, 19th February,
Last night?s meeting was a drawn battle. The ?wants? and the ?don?t wants? did an immense amount of talking, and were theatrical than they ever manage to be on stage. Milligan and Mother stuck their tongues in their cheeks and waited ? until a plan was formulated which while presenting some outward appearance of novelty will leave essentials much as they were.
Read ? ?Path to Rome? (H. Belloc)'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gerald Moore Print: Book
'Monday, 22nd March,
Read ? ?The eye ? witness? (H. Belloc).'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gerald Moore Print: Serial / periodical
'Tuesday 3rd August.
?Pongo and the Bull? ? ( Belloc)'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gerald Moore Print: Book
'A Meeting held at Grove House May 3rd H. B. Lawson in the chair
Min 1. Minutes of last Read and approved
[...]
[Min] 4 The Subject of the evening "Humour" was then introduced by H. B. Lawson who fascinated us by his thoughtful attempts to
define his subject[.] An interesting discussion followed in which the disputants backed their opinions by literary allusion and we
were led to wonder if Humour flowed from F E Pollards heart & wit from R H Robsons head.
After Supper the Club settled down to enjoy the following selections chosen to represent English Humour in literature down the
Ages[:]
Prologue of Chaucers Canterbury Tales The Prioress & Wife of Bath read by Howard R. Smith
Shakespeares Henry IV The Men in Buckram read by R. H Robson Fallstaff
[ditto] S. A. Reynolds Poins
[ditto] C. E. Stansfield Prince Hall [sic]
[ditto] Geo Burrow Gadshill
Jane Austin Pride & Prejudice Mr. Collins proposes
[ditto] Mrs Robson
Charles Dickens David Copperfield Mrs Micawber on her husbands career[?] Geo Burrow
Charles Lamb A Letter Alfred Rawlings
Lewis Carrols Alice in Wonderland The Lobster Quadrill Mary Reynolds
Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat Uncle Podger hangs a picture F. E. Pollard
Hilaire Belloc Cautionary Tales "George" recited by Howard R. Smith'
Unknown
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith
'Meeting held at Frensham: 23.5.33
Howard R. Smith in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]
5. We then proceeded to the subject for the evening "The Jew in Literature", which was dealt
with by eight readings and some discussion of several of them. It proved to be rather a vast
subject, & there was considerable disagreement as to what really are the racial characteristics
of the Jews, and there is an even greater indefiniteness in the Secretary's mind as to what the
Club collectively thinks on all this. It must suffice then to give a list of the readers and their
readings.
Mary E. Robson an extract from Du Maurier's Trilby describing Svengali
Howard R. Smith from Heine, in the Temple
Shakespeare, on Shylock's love for Jessica
George H. S. Burrow two XIII Century ballads, Sir Hugh & The Jew's Daughter
Mary S. Stansfield from The Children of the Ghetto
Edgar B. Castle from F. W. H. Myers's St. Paul
Victor W. Alexander from Frazer's Folklore of the Old Testament
Sylvanus A. Reynolds, the Jew's Tale in Longfellow's Wayside Inn
Howard R. Smith from Hilaire Belloc's The Jews'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at 68 Northcourt Avenue
20th III 1935
Howard R. Smith in the chair
1. Minutes of last Meeting were read & approved
[...]
4. The Program of anonymous readings was then proceeded with[;] members reading in the
order in which they sat round the room. An interval of about 2 minutes at the end of each
piece was allowed for cogitation at the end of which the reader anounced the authors name &
the work from which he had read. Identification proved unexpectedly dificult[.] No one reading
was identified by everyone & the highest scorer only guessed eight authors & 4 & ½ works
Reader Author Work
E. B. Castle Plato Phaedo
M. S. W. Pollard R. Browning Pictures in Florence
E. Goadby Saml. Butler Notes
M. E. Robson Flecker Hassan
R. H. Robson Belloc Eyewitness
E. C. Stevens M. Arnold Self dependance
E. D. Brain B. Shaw Pre. to Back to Methuselah
M. Castle T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus
A. Rawlings R. Browning Pheidippides
J. Rawlings G. Eliot Middlemarch
E. B. Smith Lewis Carroll Phantasmagoria
F. E. Reynolds Tennyson Locksley Hall
S. A. Reynolds E. B. Browning Lady Geraldine’s Courtship
H. R. Smith Chas. Kingsley Westward Ho
F. E. Pollard Shelley Prometheus Unbound'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Returned Belloc's book on June 4th not got another yet.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Ethel Corry Knocker Print: Book
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue 10.3.41
F. E. Pollard in the Chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
3. Violet Clough read an exceedingly interesting paper on “Children’s Literature”
showing the was it has developed from the “Moral Tales” of Maria Edgeworth
published at the beginning of the 19th. Century, to the delightful tales by Beatrix
Potter & A. A. Milne which are read today. The one retrogressive step she thought
was in the binding of the books, which today seem to come to pieces almost at
once. All the mothers present agreed with this, so it is no reflection on the Clough
children in particular although it may be on the modern child in general.
4. Readings from children’s literature were then given as follows:
Labour Lost from the Rollo Books. Selected by S. A. Reynolds & read by A. B.
Dilks.
“The Fairchild Family” by Mrs. Sherwood read by Mrs. Pollard – this was
particularly gruesome.
“Little Women” by Louisa Alcott read by Mary Stansfield.
Divers examples of children[’]s poetry read by Rosamund Wallis, which included
an impromptu recitation by Howard Smith of one of Hillair[e] Belloc’s Cautionary
Tales.
“Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carrol[l] read by F. E. Pollard.
“Samuel Whiskers” by Beatrix Potter read by Muriel Stevens.
“The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo” a Just So Story by Rudyard Kipling, read by
Howard Smith.
“The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame read by Margaret Dilks.
“The House at Pooh Corner” by A. A. Milne, read by A. B. Dilks.
5. Bruce Dilks sang two of Fraser-Simsons settings of A. A. Milne’s Poems.
“Christopher Robin Alone in the Dark” and “Happiness”.
[Signed as a true record of the meeting by] S. A. Reynolds
April 7th / 41'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, 27. III. 1939
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
[...]
2. Minutes of last read + approved.
3. A. B. Dilks read from Sir James Jeans’ ‘Universe around Us’. Man’s
insignificance was not even tempered by the possibility of life on Mars.
4. Muriel Stevens brought us to more homely surroundings with passages from
Eleanor Acland’s ‘Goodbye for the Present.’
5. Hilaire Belloc’s descriptive power was illustrated by R. H. Robson’s reading from
‘The Eyewitness’, telling of Napoleon’s pursuit of of Sir John Moore + a snow storm
in the Sierras.
6. Ethel C. Stevens’s extract from Agnes Hunt’s Reminiscences dealt with
experiences in the Tasmanian Bush.
7. R. D. L Moore read from T Jefferson Hogg – from a book published in 1833 – an
account of Shelley at Oxford.
8. Dorothea Taylor gave us Taine’s impressions of England written in 1871.
[...]
[signed] R. H. Robson
19. 5. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School — at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
[...]
[signed]A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School — at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
[...]
[signed]A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School — at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
[...]
[signed]A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School — at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
[...]
[signed]A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
3. C. E. Stanfield read from “First and Last Things” giving us the man who
deplored the spread of education; and also extracts about rivers, mountains and
Algiers.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Reginald H. Robson Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
5. V. W. Alexander read from “Hills and the Sea” the description of the Valley of
the R. Rother, showing Belloc’s love of Sussex.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
6. Muriel Stevens gave us some selections from his sonnets & other verse.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Unknown
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
7. Celia Burrow then read the vivid account of Dronet’s ride which resulted in the
arrest of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette at Varennes.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Celia Burrow Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
9. H. R. Smith, reading from “The Historic Thames” told us of the once important
Osney Abbey & of Reading Abbey as it used to be.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39
R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, &
became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a
champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics,
yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution,
as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his
account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
10. Finally R. D. L. Moore read from “The Crisis of our Civilization”, showing
Belloc’s ideas & those of some other historians as to what History could or could
not teach.
[...]
[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
‘At present I am “on sick” with lumbago, a horrid name … "Land and Water"
is still very optimistic. My thoughts go onward to the dim time after the war,
and the politics in ten years time. Here is Belloc gaining a great following;
who is a very strong opponent of the Party System, a Strong Anti-Socialist
… He is certain to show large in public opinion … I have discovered an
original essay on Spring! In a book called "Southward Ho" by Holbrook
Jackson in Dent’s Wayfarer’s Library—a good book. There is nowhere to put
books here—nowhere! Only in that comic-tragic kit bag. Gott strafe it. A slot
machine is what I want, or a valet.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Ivor Bertie Gurney Print: Serial / periodical
‘I go down today. Where to?—Nobody knows. May be in the Hosp. Train for
days.
Health: quite restored.
Mood: highest variety of jinks.
Weather: sub-tropical.
Time: 11 a.m.
Appearance: sun-boiled lobster.
Hair: 8% Grey.
Cash in hand: 5 francs.
Size of Socks: same as previous consignment.
Sole complaints: Nostalgia; Mosquito bites.
Last Book Read: A pickled Company by Belloc.’
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Wilfred Owen Print: Book
