Record Number: 19950

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I have read nothing, but half of one German novel, last sunday! Not long ago, all this would have made me miserable; but at present I submit to it with equanimity, and even find enjoyment in the thought that in this humblest of spheres of existence I am doing all I can do save my spirit and my fortunes from the shipwreck which threatened then, and to fit me for discharging to myself and others whatever duties my natural or accidental capabilities, slender but actually existing as they are, point out and impose upon me.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

15 May 1825

Country:

Unknown

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:

Reader:

Thomas Carlyle

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

4 Dec 1795

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer / Academic

Religion:

Lapsed Calvinist

Country of Origin:

Scotland

Country of Experience:

Unknown

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:

[German novel]

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

19950

Source:

Print

Author:

Thomas Carlyle

Editor:

C R Sanders

Title:

The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle

Place of Publication:

Durham, North Carolina

Date of Publication:

1970

Vol:

3

Page:

330

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas Carlyle, C R Sanders (ed.), The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, (Durham, North Carolina, 1970), 3, p. 330, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=19950, accessed: 22 December 2024

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Additional Comments:

Taken from letter from TC to Jane Baillie Welsh dated 22 May 1825 wirtten at Mainhill. Pages 329-333 in this edition. See TC's letter to Henry Crabb Robinson dated 29th April 1825 - the book he refers to here is likely to be one of those listed in that letter.