Record Number: 12425

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'In one of the yards we noticed...an old man of eighty, with hair as white as the prison walls themselves, and which was especially striking from the generality of prisoners being mere youths. He no sooner saw us enter, than hastily put on his spectacles, he commenced reading, bending his face down as if to hide it from shame... he had once held a high command in the army. He was there for a nameless offence.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1860 and 31 Dec 1862

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

city: London
specific address: Coldbath Fields Prison
other location: in one of the prison yards

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

anon

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

formerly held high command in the army, now a prisoner

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

[unknown]

Title:

[unknown]

Genre:

Unknown

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (institution library)
prison library

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12425

Source:

Print

Author:

Henry Mayhew

Editor:

n/a

Title:

The Criminal Prisons of London

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1862

Vol:

n/a

Page:

292

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Henry Mayhew, The Criminal Prisons of London, (London, 1862), p. 292, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12425, accessed: 22 December 2024

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Additional Comments:

None