Record Number: 22252
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'[Johnson said] The books that we do read with pleasure are light compositions, which contain a quick succession of events. However, I have this year read all Virgil through. I read a book of the "Aeneid" every night, so it was done in twelve nights, and I had great delight in it. The "Georgicks" did not give me so much pleasure, except the fourth book. The "Eclogues" I have almost all by heart. I do not think the story of the "Aeneid" interesting. I like the story of the "Odyssey" much better; and this not on account of the wonderful things which it contains; for there are wonderful things enough in the "Aeneid";--the ships of the Trojans turned to sea-nymphs,--the tree at Polydorus's tomb dropping blood. The story of the "Odyssey" is interesting, as a great part of it is domestick.'
Century:1700-1799
Date:Until: 1 May 1783
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:city: London
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:18 Sep 1709
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:writer
Religion:Anglican
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:odyssey
Genre:Classics, Poetry
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:22252
Source:James Boswell
Editor:R.W. Chapman
Title:Life of Johnson
Place of Publication:Oxford
Date of Publication:1980
Vol:n/a
Page:1234
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 1234, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=22252, accessed: 21 December 2024
Additional Comments:
Originally published 1791.
