Record Number: 17641

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Elizabeth Barrett to Arabella Moulton-Barrett, 26 July 1847: 'We passed the time [at the monastery at Vallombrosa] till monday, .. reading the Life of San Gualberto (who established the monastery) & learning from that only book within our reach, how spiritual holiness & benediction float in the air of the place [...] & how no mortal soul can approach the mountain, without partaking the sanctifying advantage.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 4 Jul 1847 and 26 Jul 1847

Country:

Italy

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:

Reading Group:

Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Unknown

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writers

Religion:

various

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

Italy

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

unknown

Title:

Life of St Giovanni Gualberto

Genre:

Other religious, Biography

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ

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Source Information:

Record ID:

17641

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis

Title:

The Brownings' Correspondence

Place of Publication:

Winfield

Date of Publication:

1998

Vol:

14

Page:

257

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis (ed.), The Brownings' Correspondence, (Winfield, 1998), 14, p. 257, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=17641, accessed: 13 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

Source eds note that several accounts of San Gualberto's life existed in both verse and prose at time of reading; see p.261 n.11. In a letter of 7 August 1847 to Julia Martin, Barrett Browning describes how the Life of San Gualberto was 'laid on the table for the edification of strangers' (see p.275 in source).