Record Number: 32890

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

‘Have you read "Harry Richmond" lately? I like the first part of the book immensely, but skipped afterwards—copiously and vigorously. On the whole, "Evan Harrington" pleased me more … "War and Peace" will always hold me in its thrall. But next time I skip the chunks of History, and read about Pierre and Natasha. As for "Return of the Native", God seems to have arranged with Hardy to do his cunning-worst. But how rich are the country scenes! … I am glad to say that my health goes on improving, but slowly. Still, now I know what neurasthenia is; I realise and fight it—a great step … Is D’Annunzio worth reading, if I could collar a book of his?’

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 1 Jan and 12 Aug 1915

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Ivor Bertie Gurney

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

28 Aug 1890

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Private, Gloucestershire Regiment

Religion:

Christian (Anglican)

Country of Origin:

England

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:

Leo Tolstoy

Title:

War and Peace

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32890

Source:

Print

Author:

Ivor Gurney

Editor:

R. K. R. Thornton,

Title:

Ivor Gurney: Collected Letters

Place of Publication:

Manchester

Date of Publication:

1991

Vol:

n/a

Page:

32

Additional Comments:

Letter to Ethel Voynich [Irish novelist and musician] 12 August 1915, Chelmsford, Essex

Citation:

Ivor Gurney, R. K. R. Thornton, (ed.), Ivor Gurney: Collected Letters, (Manchester, 1991), p. 32, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32890, accessed: 22 December 2024

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Additional Comments:

The evidence strongly suggests repeated reading, therefore he probably owned a copy.