Record Number: 28397

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

[Dorothy, Lady Bradshaigh (as 'Mrs Belfour') to Samuel Richardson, 11 January [1748/9], on completing reading of final three volumes of Clarissa:] 'I have, Sir, with much pain, much greater than you imagine, gone through your inimitable piece [...] It must be acknowledged by every body a noble work [...] 'I once intended to point out, and take notice, as I went along, of what I thought particular beauties, but they came so thick upon me, that I found it would be an endless piece of work [...] Besides, I am conscious I have not strength of judgement for such an undertaking; more especially at present, being every way weakened by reading your most moving relation [discusses responses to text (including copious weeping and disturbed sleep) further].'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 6 Jan and 11 Jan

Country:

n/a

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

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Dorothy Lady Bradshaigh

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

1705

Socio-Economic Group:

Royalty / aristocracy

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

n/a

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Samuel Richardson

Title:

Clarissa (final 3 volumes)

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

28397

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Anna Laetitia Barbauld

Title:

Correspondence of Samuel Richardson [...] Selected from the original manuscripts, bequeathed by him to his family

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1804

Vol:

4

Page:

239-242

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Anna Laetitia Barbauld (ed.), Correspondence of Samuel Richardson [...] Selected from the original manuscripts, bequeathed by him to his family , (London, 1804), 4, p. 239-242, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28397, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

NB date in 'Date of Birth of reader/Listener' is date of baptism; see entry in DNB. See p.238 in source for Lady Bradshaigh's letter of 6 January, in which she mentions beginning this reading. See p.177n in source for background to Lady Bradshaigh's correspondence with Richardson.