Record Number: 30633

---

Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at 64 Northcourt Avenue 25.1.43
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.

[...]

2. Minutes of the last meeting were read and signed

[...]

6. The rest of the evening was spent reading “The Taming of the Shrew” reputed to be by William Shakespeare. Bruce Dilks took the part of Petruchio which he read with all the dash and vigour of the practised Shrew Tamer. Muriel Stevens read the part of the Shrew, but her natural characteristics also showed through her interpretation of the part and she was rather more convincing after she had been tamed than before. The summing up in the last scene, of the wife’s duty to her husband was warmly applauded by all the gentle men present — Other parts were read, all most adequately as follows:

Baptista — Howard Smith.
Vincentio S. A. Reynolds
Lucentio Kenneth Nicholson
Gremio F. E. Pollard
Hortensio R. D. L. Moore
Tranio Margaret Dilks
Biondello Ruth Beck
Grumio A. G. Joselin
Curtis Mary S. W. Pollard
Bianca Elsie Harrod
Widow Rosamund Wallis

The thanks of all were expressed to Alice Joselin for cutting and casting the play and she hastened to assure us that it had been done only with the assistance and approbation of her lord and master.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

25 Jan 1943

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 64, Northcourt Avenue

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:

Mary Pollard

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

1875

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

[personal unearned income]

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:

William Shakespeare

Title:

The Taming of the Shrew

Genre:

Drama

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

---

Source Information:

Record ID:

30633

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Margaret Dilks

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

142–145

Additional Information:

Margaret Dilks was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1940 to 1970. It is inferred from this, and from the handwriting, that she was the author of this set of minutes.

Citation:

Margaret Dilks, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943), private collection, 142–145, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=30633, accessed: 21 December 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).