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the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 7300


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The Dr [Brewster] stopped to tell me that he had got a paper on Chemistry written (in French) by Berzelius, professor of that science in Stockholm - which was to be published in April:- would I translate it? I answered in the affirmative; and next day went over to get the paper in question. It consists of six long sheets, written in a cramp hand, & in a very diffuse [s]tile. I have it more than half done. The labour of writing it down is the principal one. In other respects there is no difficulty.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 17 Feb 1819 and 23 Feb 1819

Country:

Scotland

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Edinburgh

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


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Thomas Carlyle

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

4 Dec 1795

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer / Academic

Religion:

Lapsed Calvinist

Country of Origin:

Scotland

Country of Experience:

Scotland

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Baron Jacob Berzelius

Title:

Examination of some compounds which depend upon very weak affinities

Genre:

Science

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Sheet

Publication Details

Subsequently published in Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, I (June 1819), p. 63-75; (Oct 1819), p. 243-253

Provenance

borrowed (other)


Source Information:

Record ID:

7300

Source:

Print

Author:

Thomas Carlyle

Editor:

C R Sanders

Title:

The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle

Place of Publication:

Durham, South Carolina

Date of Publication:

1970

Vol:

1

Page:

168

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas Carlyle, C R Sanders (ed.), The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, (Durham, South Carolina, 1970), 1, p. 168, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=7300, accessed: 22 November 2024


Additional Comments:

Taken from letter from Carlyle to Alexander Carlyle (brother) dated 23rd February 1819, written in Edinburgh. Pages 166 - 170 in this edition. Publication details of the essay given in editor's notes. Dates of experience based on Carlyle getting the essay the day after his meeting with Dr Brewster 'last Tuesday' (16th February) and the date of the letter to his brother.

   
   
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