Record Number: 28242

---

Reading Experience:

Evidence:

[Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, 1 October 1763:] 'The physical [i.e. medical] book I am studying at present is a very pretty treatise, "sur la gaiete," which the author recommends as essential to health, and as health is also essential to gaiety, he prescribes a proper regimen. One part of it I have long been in, for he advises above all things to avoid cards, large assemblies, routs, and strings of engagements for a fortnight beforehand. These he very justly calls chains and shackles, un art de s'ennuier, painful studies, and assujetissemens; 'tis a very pretty book. Talking of books, I will tell you in what a large one you have engaged me -- Dr Jortin's Life of Erasmus. I know you will wonder how [italics] I [end italics] could be tempted to read any thing of [italics] his [end italics], considering how widely (I thank God) we differ in some points; but in good truth, in this book, so far as I have gone, I have been very much pleased with him in many places, and found a candour that I did not expect.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Sep 1763 and 1 Oct 1763

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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

---

Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Catherine Talbot

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

21 May 1721

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer

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

---

Text Being Read:

Author:

John Jortin

Title:

Life of Erasmus

Genre:

Other religious, History, Biography

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Described by reader as published in 'two thick quartos'.

Provenance

unknown

---

Source Information:

Record ID:

28242

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Montagu Pennington

Title:

A Series of Letters between Mrs Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the year 1741 to 1770. To which are added, Letters from Mrs Elizabeth Carter to Mrs Vesey, between the years 1763 and 1787

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1809

Vol:

3

Page:

65-66

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Montagu Pennington (ed.), A Series of Letters between Mrs Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the year 1741 to 1770. To which are added, Letters from Mrs Elizabeth Carter to Mrs Vesey, between the years 1763 and 1787, (London, 1809), 3, p. 65-66, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28242, accessed: 22 November 2024

---

Additional Comments:

None