Record Number: 32427
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
(1) 'You say "Arethusa" is lovely: have you bought it or got a copy from the library? In any case I am very glad you have started it. Isn't Omobono a lovely character, and also the slave dealer's wife? I think it a very good romance all round.' (2) 'I rather expected some fuller criticism of Arethusa, and would like to know your final verdict when you write. Tho' of course it's not in the rank of 'real books', I have a sentimental affection for it from reading it over ever since I was about ten.'
Century:1900-1945
Date:Between 1 Nov 1908 and 6 Feb 1917
Country:Northern Ireland
Timen/a
Place:Belfast
Co. Down
'Little Lea', 76 Circular Rd
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
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:Northern Ireland
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Arethusa
Genre:Fiction, History, Geography / Travel, Romance set in 14th century Constantinople, rivalry between Venice and Genoa
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication DetailsMost likely edition: Macmillan, London (1907) with illustrations by Gertrude Demain Hammond
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:32427
Source:C. S. Lewis
Editor:Walter Hooper
Title:C. S. Lewis Collected Letters
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:2000
Vol:1
Page:272, 274
Additional Comments:
(1) From a letter to Arthur Greeves, 1 February 1917 (2) From a letter to the same, 7 February 1917
Citation:
C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 272, 274, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32427, accessed: 17 August 2024
Additional Comments:
I don't know whether Greeves ever did give his 'final verdict' on this novel. Crawford was an American who lived most of his life in Italy and had an intimate knowledge and love of that country and its history. 'Arethusa' is a love story set in the context of Venice's place in the Byzantine Empire; although this is the only reference to it in Lewis's correspondence, it seems to have charmed him throughout his life.