Record Number: 27622

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The rest of the evening was devoted to John Bunyan. H.R. Smith read a paper dealing with the main episodes of his life. This was a valuable introduction and gave the right historical & religious setting of Bunyan. C.E. Stansfield read an Appreciation of Pilgrim's Progress & of the writing of Bunyan. He referred to Bunyan & Milton as the two writers who expressed most completely the Puritan ideal. He expected Pilgrim's Progress to live as it expressed the universal quest of mankind. There were several readings from Bunyan's works which added greatly to the interest. Mrs Smith read from 'Grace Abounding' the book which is his spiritual autobiography. R.H. Robson read the Fight with Apollyon C.I. Evans [ditto] The trial scene in Vanity Fair Mrs Unwin [ditto] The Interpreter's House. In the general discussion some doubt was expressed of C.E. Stansfield's opinion that the Pilgrim's progress will live. It was felt by some that the story will always be attractive to children, but that the puritan flavour & crude theology would prevent it becoming anything more than an interesting historical document for older people'.

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Until: 29 Oct 1921

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Reading

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:

Charles Stansfield

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1865

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

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:

John Bunyan

Title:

n/a

Genre:

Other religious, Fiction, Autobiog / Diary

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

reading group

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Source Information:

Record ID:

27622

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Ernest E. Unwin

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 2 (1915-31)

Location:

Private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

95-6

Additional Information:

n/a

Citation:

Ernest E. Unwin, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 2 (1915-31) , Private collection, n/a, 95-6, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=27622, accessed: 25 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).