'In respect of contemporary novels he [Tennyson] had a very catholic taste. Latterly he read Stevenson and George Meredith with great interest: also Walter Besant, Black, Hardy, Henry James, Marion Crawford, Anstey, Barrie, Blackmore, Conan Doyle, Miss Braddon, Miss Lawless, Ouida, Miss Broughton, Lady Margaret Majendie, Hall Caine, and Shorthouse. He liked Edna Lyall's Autobiography of a Slander, and the Geier-Wally by Wilhelmina von Hillern; and often gave his friends Surly Tim to read, for its "concentrated pathos." "Mrs Oliphant's prolific work," he would observe, "is amazing, and she is nearly always worth reading."'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred Tennyson Print: Unknown
'We even sat on deck though the ship rolled too much to allow of our having up deck chairs. Read Rose's "Greek War" lent me by Sir W.S. [Smith]; "Life of Nicholson" the day before and "Corleone" before that.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell Print: Book
'On many nights I would sit beside the kitchen fire, listening to my father reading or telling tales. There was no wireless then and no gramophones, and our fireside talk was little different from that which had been going on for generations by any Connaught fireside ... At other times my father would read to me from a book. These tales were usually of the "creepy" variety—Thrawn Janet; or one of Marion Crawford's uncanny stories; or Green Tea, or The Watcher, by that master of the macabre, Sheridan Le Fanu; or the most vivid ghost story in English, Bulwer Lytton's The Haunted and the Haunters; and many another tooth-chattering tale, as Stevenson called them.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Desmond Malone Print: Book
'Books read from Feby 16th/18
King Richard II Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night's Dream do.
Henry the Eighth do.
As You Like It do.
Ziska Marie Corelli
Lorna Doone R. D. Blackmore
Don Quixote de la mancha Vol II
(Miguel de Cervantes Savedra)
Food of the Gods H. G. Wells
Odette's Marriage Albert Delpit
A Walking Gentleman James Prior
The Making of a Marchioness F. H. Burnett
Vixen Mrs. Braddon
The Magnetic North Eliz. Robins
A Roman Singer Marion Crawford
In the Reign of Terror G. A. Henty
Songs of a Sourdough R. W. Service
Forest Folk James Prior
John Henry Hugh McHugh
The Inviolable Sanctuary G. A. Birmingham'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Edward Henry Jones Print: Book
(1) 'You say "Arethusa" is lovely: have you bought it or got a copy from the library? In any
case I am very glad you have started it. Isn't Omobono a lovely character, and also the slave
dealer's wife? I think it a very good romance all round.' (2) 'I rather expected some fuller
criticism of Arethusa, and would like to know your final verdict when you write. Tho' of course
it's not in the rank of 'real books', I have a sentimental affection for it from reading it over
ever since I was about ten.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Clive Staples Lewis Print: Book
'Read Arethusa'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Verena Vera Pennefather Print: Book
