Record Number: 31871

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at Lambia, 33 Conisboro Avenue 19.5.39 R. H. Robson in the chair.
[...]
2. R. H. Robson gave an introductory sketch of Hilaire Belloc & his work.
Belloc was educated at the Oratory School – at that time in Birmingham, & became later an M.P. with a Liberal but independent outlook. He made himself a champion of Roman Catholicism, wrote on such varied subjects a military tactics, yachting, religion, & politics, topography, history especially the French Revolution, as well as producing novels and poetry.
R. H. Robson read, as specimens of his work, his opinion of St. Just, and his account of the Battle of Hastings.
Other readings were given by later contributors.
[...]
9. H. R. Smith, reading from “The Historic Thames” told us of the once important Osney Abbey & of Reading Abbey as it used to be. [...]

[signed] A.B. Dilks
24. 11. 39'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

19 May 1939

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 33 Conisboro 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

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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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Hilaire Belloc

Title:

The Historic Thames

Genre:

History, Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

31871

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Victor Alexander

Title:

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

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

45–8

Additional Information:

Victor Alexander’s authorship is inferred from the fact that he was secretary to the XII Book Club at this time, and from the handwriting.

Citation:

Victor Alexander, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943), private collection, 45–8, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=31871, accessed: 22 November 2024

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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).