Record Number: 161
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'Robert Colyer, who rose to become a celebrated Unitarian minister, deliberately chose to dwell upon the moment when, as a child labourer in a Fewston linen factory, he bought his first book, "The History of Whittington and his Cat":..."in that first purchase lay the spark of a fire which has not yet gone down to white ashes, the passion which grew with my growth to read all the books in the early years I could lay my hands on, and in this wise prepare me in some fashion for the work I must do in the ministry... I see myself in the far-away time and cottage reading, as I may truly say in my case, for dear life".'
Century:1800-1849
Date:unknown
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:city: Fewston
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:Child (0-17)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:1823
Socio-Economic Group:Labourer (non-agricultural)
Occupation:Unitarian Minister eventually, but child labourer at this time
Religion:Unitarian
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:The History of Whittington and his Cat
Genre:Fiction, Children's Lit
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceowned
Source Information:
Record ID:161
Source:Jonathan Rose
Editor:n/a
Title:The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes
Place of Publication:New Haven
Date of Publication:2001
Vol:n/a
Page:3
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Jonathan Rose, The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes, (New Haven, 2001), p. 3, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=161, accessed: 15 January 2025
Additional Comments:
See Robert Collyer, "Some Memories" (Boston, n.d.) pp.14-22.
