Record Number: 32370

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'In odd moments last week I read an excellent novel by — you'd never guess — Bernard Shaw. It is called "Love among the Artists" and is published in Constable's shilling series. I want you to get it: there are one or two extraordinary characters in it, and I think the whole gist of the thing, all about music, art etc. would appeal to you very strongly. Tell me if you do. I wonder what the good author who takes his own works so seriously would think if he knew that he was read for pleasure to fill up the odd moments of a schoolboy. If you do get the book, don't forget to read the preface which is very amusing.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 30 May 1916 and 6 Jun 1916

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

Great Bookham
Surrey
'Gastons'

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:

Clive Staples Lewis

Age:

n/a

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

29 Nov 1898

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Student

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

George Bernard Shaw

Title:

Love among the Artists: A Novel

Genre:

Fiction, Arts / architecture, Romantic love and matrimony from a cynical point of view

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

London: Constable, 1914

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32370

Source:

Print

Author:

C. S. Lewis

Editor:

Walter Hooper

Title:

C. S. Lewis Collected Letters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

2000

Vol:

1

Page:

190

Additional Comments:

From a letter to Arthur Greeves, 6 June 1916

Citation:

C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 190, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32370, accessed: 13 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

This novel was first published in the United States in 1890 although Shaw had written it in 1881. His alleged 'difficulty experienced even whilst I was writing the book, in remembering what it was about' forms the theme of the preface which Lewis describes as 'very amusing.' I don't think Greeves did acquire the book; it is not referred to again in their correspondence.