Record Number: 12586

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'[By c. late 1830s] My mind had [...] become much quietened and strengthened by the reading of Butler's "Analogy", which I had always heard mentioned with admiration,and which I stumbled upon, as it seemed accidentally (though doubtless it was a Providential help sent me) [...] I took it up first for curiosity, and read it through nearly, but not quite to the end; feeling very much afraid all the time that some one would inquire into my studies, and being greatly humiliated by an observation made by William [reader's brother, a clergyman], who one day found me with it in my hand. His surprised tone, as he exclaimed, "You can't understand that," made me shrink into my shell of reserve, and for years I never owned to anyone that Butler's "Analogy" had been to me, as it has been to hundreds, the stay of a troubled intellect and a weak faith.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1833 and 31 Dec 1837

Country:

Great Britain

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Elizabeth Sewell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

19 Feb 1815

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

Great Britain

Country of Experience:

Great Britain

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Joseph Butler

Title:

Analogy of Religion

Genre:

Other religious

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1736

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12586

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Editor:

Eleanor L. Sewell

Title:

The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1908

Vol:

n/a

Page:

53-54

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell, (London, 1908), p. 53-54, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12586, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

None