'Percy Wall described his [colliery] institute as a "blatantly utilitarian" building with a "square cemented front" and a "drab, poorly lit" reading room, but it offered a wonderful escape from a dull Welsh village: "I could view the future through the words of H.G. Wells, participate in the elucidation of mysteries with Sherlock Holmes,... or penetrate darkest Africa with Rider Haggard as my guide. I could laugh at the comic frustrations of coaster seaman or bargee at the call of W.A. Jacobs. What a gloriously rich age it was for the storyteller!... When the stories palled there was always the illustrated weeklies with their pictures of people and conditions remote from my personal experience... I could laugh with Punch or Truth, although some of the humour was much too subtle for my limited education. Above all I could study the Review of Reviews and learn therein the complexities of foreign affairs.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Percy Wall Print: Book
'I always tell you all the books worth notice that I read, and I rather counsel you to read Jacob's "Spain", a book with some good sense in it, and not unentertaining; also, by all means, the first volume of Franklin's Letters. I will disinherit you if you do not admire everything written by Franklin. In addition to all other good qualities, he was thoroughly honest'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
'The following was the programme for the evening
Viz a paper by W.S. Rowntree on W.W. Jacobs' works. C.E. Stansfield, C.I. Evans & W.S. Rowntree gave illustrative readings from his works H.R. Smith read a paper on Pett Ridge & his works.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Stansfield Print: Book
'The following was the programme for the evening
Viz a paper by W.S. Rowntree on W.W. Jacobs' works. C.E. Stansfield, C.I. Evans & W.S. Rowntree gave illustrative readings from his works H.R. Smith read a paper on Pett Ridge & his works.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Rowntree Print: Book
'The following was the programme for the evening
Viz a paper by W.S. Rowntree on W.W. Jacobs' works. C.E. Stansfield, C.I. Evans & W.S. Rowntree gave illustrative readings from his works H.R. Smith read a paper on Pett Ridge & his works.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Evans Print: Book
'The following was the programme for the evening
Viz a paper by W.S. Rowntree on W.W. Jacobs' works. C.E. Stansfield, C.I. Evans & W.S. Rowntree gave illustrative readings from his works H.R. Smith read a paper on Pett Ridge & his works.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Rowntree Print: Book
'At the foot of the bed was an oak "library table" [...]. There were several piles of books on it, W. W. Jacobs for light reading, de Maupassant, Flaubert, Galsworthy, Cunninghame Graham, various periodicals, and a book, which has always been a mystery to me, "Out of the Hurly Burly" by Max Adler. In the window stood an arm chair of cherry wood, lacquered black, on which my father often sat to read for half an hour or so before "turning in".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad Print: Book
'Clouds blowing over which increased as the day went on and decided me not to go to the Alpe. A good deal bored. Fortunately I found "Many Cargoes" and read it.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell Print: Book
'Read Mrs Murphy by Frank Richardson
Read Ship's Coy by WW Jacobs.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Thomas Print: Book
'10 [a.m.] service then walked ... Read Sea Urchins by Jacobs.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Thomas Print: Book
'Wed. Lovely day. Won at bridge. Nil by mail. Read Dialstone Lane by Jacobs.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Thomas Print: Book
