Record Number: 11827
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'I started to read a book called "Ishtar". It's not very good but I was very vague as to who Ishtar was - apparently the Babylonian goddess of love, war and fertility. Persepone, Artemis and Freya all in one. Normally Iwould not have bothered with it but a remark in Durrell's "Black Book" had set me wondering about Ishtar, vis - "From music we demand our whole life if it is to move us; every modulation of dream, despair, love, yearning. It is the past and the future going down into the tomb; the descent of Ishtar among the soiled roses; the entry into the chamber of the Cosmos; the first kicking in the womb and the last elegant spasm of cessation, lull, status". "Ishtar" by E.S. Stevens is badly written and rater trite, but quite interesting. I like stories about "digs" and I am rather interested in Baghdad though I know very little about that part of the world.'
Century:1900-1945
Date:Between 1 Jun 1942 and 30 Jun 1942
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:n/a
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Female
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Unknown/NA
Occupation:Housewife
Religion:unknown
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Ishtar
Genre:Fiction
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:11827
Source - Manuscript:Other
Information:
File Report 1332, July 1942, BOOKS AND THE PUBLIC, p. 20, in Mass Observation Online (access to this site is restricted to purchasing institutions, please see
http://www.amdigital.co.uk/collections/Mass-Observation-Online for details). http://www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk
Additional Information:
MOO accessed 19/11/07.
Citation:
File Report 1332, July 1942, BOOKS AND THE PUBLIC, p. 20, in Mass Observation Online (access to this site is restricted to purchasing institutions, please see
http://www.amdigital.co.uk/collections/Mass-Observation-Online for details). http://www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk
Additional Comments:
None