Record Number: 28640

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Charlotte Bronte to her publisher, W. S. Williams, 25 June 1849:

'I have always forgotten to acknowledge the receipt of the parcel [of books, regularly sent by Williams] from Cornhill [...] I looked at it the other day — it reminded me too sharply of the time when the first parcel arrived — last October; Emily was then beginning to be ill — the opening of the parcel and fascination of the books cheered her — their perusal occupied her for many a weary day: the very evening before her last morning dawned I read to her one of Emerson's essays — I read on till I found she was not listening — I thought to recommence next day — Next day, the first glance at her face told me what would happen before night-fall.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

18 Dec 1848

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Haworth
county: Yorkshire
specific address: Haworth Parsonage

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:

Charlotte Brontë

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

21 Apr 1816

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

Emily Bronte (reader's sister).

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Title:

[Essay]

Genre:

Essays / Criticism

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

28640

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Thomas James Wise and John Alexander Symington

Title:

The Brontes: Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

1:2

Page:

350

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas James Wise and John Alexander Symington (ed.), The Brontes: Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence, (Oxford, 1980), 1:2, p. 350, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28640, accessed: 13 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

Emily Bronte died on 19 December 1848.