Record Number: 17006

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Before leaving the cotton mill I had the good fortune to make my first acquaintance with the earlier works of Charles Dickens. Our manager, who was a reading man, was subscribing to periodically issued numbers of the "Pickwick Papers"... and he generously offered me an early perusal of the "Pickwick Papers", on the condition that I fetched the numbers as they were due from a little stationer's shop near the Navigation Inn. This was a double pleasure to me, as in addition to reading the pamphlet I could have half-an-hour's breathing outside the mill. Dickens assisted in lightening the burden of a weary time. I gathered fresh life from his admirable writings; and even then began to look into the distant future, with the hope that at sometime I might be enabled to track his footsteps, however far I might be behind. This prospect constantly buoyed up my hopes; and, when at last I was taken away from the mill I felt a regret that by this proceeding I sacrificed a glorious opportunity of making myself known in the world.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1838 and 31 Dec 1838

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

Hollinwood
other location: on the way to work

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:

Benjamin Brierley

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

26 Jun 1825

Socio-Economic Group:

Labourer (non-agricultural)

Occupation:

a 'piecer' in a cotton mill, later hand-loom weaver and then writer

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

England

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:

Charles Dickens

Title:

Pickwick Papers

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Serial / periodical

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (other)

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Source Information:

Record ID:

17006

Source:

Print

Author:

Benjamin Brierley

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Home Memories

Place of Publication:

Bramhall

Date of Publication:

2002 (1886)

Vol:

n/a

Page:

21-22

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Benjamin Brierley, Home Memories, (Bramhall, 2002 (1886)), p. 21-22, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=17006, accessed: 21 December 2024

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Additional Comments:

None