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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 15993


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Mary Moulton-Barrett to her daughter Elizabeth Barrett, on receiving advance copies of the latter's first published volume of poetry the previous evening, 28 February 1826: 'Arabel, who had read the fugitive pieces and some of the Essay to the listening circle [in drawing room], told me she thought the former beautiful, but that she did not understand a word of the former [sic] [...] & Henry who was indulging in turning "[italics]clean[end italics]" over head & heels, after his intellectual treat, declared he thought "every word of it, was very nice indeed." After these learned critics had betaken themselves to bed, Papa & I, each with a precious little vol: in our hands, drew close to the fire, and conned over every word [goes on to discuss reponses to individual pieces in detail]'.

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

27 Feb 1826

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

county: Herefordshire
specific address: Hope End

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


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reading Group:

Edward and Mary Moulton-Barrett

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Unknown

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

various

Religion:

Evangelical

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:

Elizabeth Barrett

Title:

An Essay on Mind with Other Poems

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Advance copy, 1826

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

15993

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Philip Kelley and Ronald Hudson

Title:

The Brownings' Correspondence

Place of Publication:

Winfield

Date of Publication:

1984

Vol:

1

Page:

235-236

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Philip Kelley and Ronald Hudson (ed.), The Brownings' Correspondence, (Winfield, 1984), 1, p. 235-236, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=15993, accessed: 22 November 2024


Additional Comments:

Source editors note that Mary Moulton-Barrett used word 'former' twice by mistake, the first being 'the one probably intended as such, because at that spot she first wrote "latter," then crossed it out' (see p.238 n.4).

   
   
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