the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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prisoners at Pentonville prison : [unknown]

'From this time [7pm] till nine o'clock, the prisoners are allowed to read such books as they may have obtained from the library. To show us that the men were generally so occupied, the officer who had attended us throughout the day now led us from cell to cell, and drew aside the small metal screen that hung down before the little peep hole in each door, when, on looking through it, we found almost every prisoner whom we peeped in upon seated close to the gas-light, and busily engaged in persuing either some book or periodical that was spread out before him.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: prisoners at Pentonville prison     Print: Book, Serial / periodical

prisoners at Pentonville : Bible

Extracts from the journal of Joseph Kingsmill: Wed 29 October: 'I was interrogated by several prisoners this evening on passages of Scripture, in the reading of which most of the prisoners spend some time before going to bed.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: prisoners at Pentonville     Print: Book

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