Record Number: 20783

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Sir Joshua Reynolds told me, that upon his return from Italy he met with it [Johnson's "Life of Savage"] in Devonshire, knowing nothing of its authour [sic], and began to read it while he was standing with his arm leaning against a chimney piece. It seized his attention so strongly, that, not being able to lay down the book till he had finished it, when he attempted to move, he found his arm totally benumbed'.

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1744 and 31 Dec 1744

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

county: Devon
other location: leaning on a chimney piece

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:

Joshua Reynolds

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

16 Jul 1723

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

painter

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:

Samuel Johnson

Title:

Life of Savage

Genre:

Biography

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ

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Source Information:

Record ID:

20783

Source:

Print

Author:

James Boswell

Editor:

R.W. Chapman

Title:

Life of Johnson

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

n/a

Page:

121

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell , R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 121, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=20783, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791.