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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 29701


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Meeting held at Eynsham, Shinfield Rd., 20.XII.33.
E. Dorothy Brain in the chair

1. Minutes of last read & approved

[...]

7. Schoolmasters in Literature were portrayed by a series of readings from biography and fiction. There were ten in all and they reflected the various estimation in which these beings are held, and were held generations ago. In spite of the dullness, the jealousy and the morbid introspection that characterize the assistant, the profession is in part redeemed by the haloes that flicker around its heads - generally, it must be admitted, very much in retrospect.

After all, would other professions fare much better?

We are certainly indebted to the committee who prepared the readings, and regret that Reginald Robson felt it necessary to omit the one he had allotted to himself.

The readings were given in this order.
1. From Roger Ascham    V. W. Alexander
2. [From] Westward Ho    H. R. Smith
3. [From] Essays of Elia    Janet Rawlings
4. [From] T. E. Brown's Clifton    Celia Burrow
6. [From] Stalky & Co    G. H. S. Burrow
5. [From] Life of Frederick Andrews    Mary Robson
7. [From] Vanity Fair    S. A. Reynolds
8. [From] Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill    Dorothy Brain
9. [From] Jeremy at Crale    E. B. Castle
10. [From] Rugby Chapel    F. E. Pollard
'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

20 Dec 1933

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: Eynsham, Shinfield Road

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Howard Smith

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1880

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

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

Members of the XII Book Club


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Charles Kingsley

Title:

Westward Ho!

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

29701

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Victor Alexander

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 3 (1931-1938)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

80–83

Additional Information:

Victor Alexander was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1931 to 1940. It is inferred from this that he was the author of this set of minutes.

Citation:

Victor Alexander, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 3 (1931-1938), private collection, 80–83, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=29701, accessed: 24 November 2024


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).

   
   
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