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the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 23082


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

E. Fry writes to her husband and daughter, Rachel, of the death of her sister, Priscilla Gurney, dated 25 Mar 1821: 'In the morning she appeared very full of love - put out her hand to several of us - showed much pleasure in your uncle Buxton's being here, and tried to speak to him but could not be understood - expressed her wish for reading, and from her feeling of love and fondness for the chapter and some signs, we believed she meant the thirteenth of 1 Corinthians, and we had a very sweet animating time together, and afterwards our dear brother Fowell spoke very sweetly to her; and besides the Bible she appeared to have some satisfaction in hearing other books read, as it has been her habit during her illness, just like mine when ill ... though she confined it to religious books, yet many of these were of an interesting nature; her hymns [Selection of Hymns, by P. Gurney] interested her much - she liked Samuel Scott's Diary - Piety Promoted - Accounts of the Missions - Watts and How - and many other books of that description ... I think her object in reading was gentle amusement and at times edification - she was very particular not to read the Bible except she felt herself in rather a lively state'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Mar 1821 and 25 Mar 1821

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Norwich (2 miles)
county: Norfolk
specific address: Earlham Hall
location in dwelling

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

passive reactive unknown
single serial unknown


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Listener:

Priscilla Gurney

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

daughter of banker and merchant

Religion:

unknown

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

sister of Elizabeth Fry



Text Being Read:

Author:

[n/a]

Title:

Bible

Genre:

Bible

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

23082

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Fry

Editor:

Katharine Fry

Title:

Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1847

Vol:

1

Page:

396-7

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Fry, Katharine Fry (ed.), Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters, (London, 1847), 1, p. 396-7, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=23082, accessed: 21 December 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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