Record Number: 17582

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I have been reading, and am enchanted by The Lady of the Lake! It has all the spirit of either of its predecessors, (have you read it?) and ten times the interest. When I had finished it, I remained with such a relish for Walter Scott upon my mind, that I immediately borrowed and sat down to a second perusal of Marmion. I like the brave villain much for being so wholly divested of sneakingness - I admire his squabble with old Angus - his tranquil determination to gain possession of the Lady Clare, and [underlined] her lands, coute qui coute [end underlining], - And as for Constance de Beverley, and her infernal Trial, I think enough can never be said of her reprobate magnanimity, of the picturesque description of her person, of the surrounding gloomy objects - of scarcely any of the striking circumstances introduced throughout the whole harrowing scene. But here am I telling you of an old book just the sort of humdrum stuff I often tell myself with pen and ink in my little private reviews - And I wont say another word upon the subject. But have you seen a little volume of Westall's Poems, containing a Day in Spring, and other detached pieces, with four lovely engravings from his own designs? One of them representing a youthful Spenser, dreaming about Knights, and squires, & Dames of high degree, and Fairies, & other entertaining whimsies. And all these visionary personages are dancing around him in the prettiest groupes you can imagine - You will think me a deuce of a pedant to keep jabbering so much about books, when perhaps you would like to hear about people. but I see no people, and keep company continually with books-'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Until: 23 Jun 1810

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: London
specific address: Chelsea College

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:

Sarah Harriet Burney

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

29 Aug 1772

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

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:

Walter Scott

Title:

Lady of the Lake, The

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

17582

Source:

Print

Author:

Sarah Harriet Burney

Editor:

Lorna J. Clark

Title:

Letters of Sarah Harriet Burney, The

Place of Publication:

Athens GA / London

Date of Publication:

1997

Vol:

n/a

Page:

114-16

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Sarah Harriet Burney, Lorna J. Clark (ed.), Letters of Sarah Harriet Burney, The, (Athens GA / London, 1997), p. 114-16, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=17582, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Letter to Charlotte Barrett, 23rd June 1810