Record Number: 22946
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'The two [italics] wittiest [end italics] things in our Language in Verse & Prose are Dr Young's Conjectures on Original Composition I think, and Dr Swift's Ballad on the South Sea. The two Tragedies which go nearest one's Heart I think - in our Language I mean - are Southern's Fatal Marriage and Lillo's Fatal Curiosity. The two best Comic Scenes in our Language according to my Taste are the Scene between Squire Richard & Myrtilla in the Provoked Husband, and that between Sir Joseph Wittol, Nol Bluff and Sharper in the Old Batchelor - not the kicking scene but the friendly one. The two best [italics] Declamatory [end italics] Scenes where the Sentiments and Language are most perfect, seem to be the Scene between Juba and Syphax in Addison's Cato, & that between the two Ladies in Johnson's Irene. I know that both are unDramatic, the latter more peculiarly so, than ever was, or ever ought to have been hazarded - but for Language & Sentiment it is most Superb. - Superieure as the French say. Johnson says the finest Tragic Scene in our Language, for Drama sentiment, Language, Power over the Heart, & every Requisite for Theatre or Closet, is the Tomb Scene in the Mourning Bride. [italics] I [end italics] think, that trying to be [italics] every [end italics] thing it escapes being [italics] anything [end italics]'
Century:Date:
Until: 31 Dec 1778
Country:n/a
Timen/a
Place:n/a
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:Female
Date of Birth:27 Jan 1741
Socio-Economic Group:Gentry
Occupation:n/a
Religion:n/a
Country of Origin:Wales
Country of Experience:n/a
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Conjectures on Original Composition. In a Letter to the Author of Sir Charles Grandison
Genre:Essays / Criticism
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:22946
Source:Hester Lynch Thrale
Editor:Katharine C. Balderston
Title:Thraliana
Place of Publication:Oxford
Date of Publication:1951
Vol:I
Page:354
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Hester Lynch Thrale, Katharine C. Balderston (ed.), Thraliana, (Oxford, 1951), I, p. 354, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=22946, accessed: 17 August 2024
Additional Comments:
None