Record Number: 8022

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Finished Miss Austen's "Emma", which amused me very much, impressing me with a high opinion of her powers of drawing and sustaining character, though not satisfying me always with the end and aim of her labours. She is successful in painting the ridiculous to the life, and while she makes demands on our patience for the almost intolerable absurdities and tediousness of her well-meaning gossips, she does not recompense us for what we suffer from her conceited and arrogant nuisances by making their vices their punishments. We are not much better, but perhaps a little more prudent for her writing. She does not probe the vices, but lays bare the weaknesses of character; the blemish on the skin, and not the corruption at the heart, is what she examines. Mrs. Brunton's books have a far higher aim; they try to make us better, and it is an addition to previous faults if they do not. The necessity, the comfort, and the elevating influence of piety is continually inculcated throughout her works - which never appear in Miss Austen's.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

15 Feb 1834

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:

William Charles Macready

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

3 Mar 1793

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Actor and Stage Manager

Religion:

Christian

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:

Jane Austen

Title:

Emma

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

8022

Source:

Print

Author:

William Charles Macready

Editor:

Frederick Pollock

Title:

Macready's Reminiscences, and selections from his diaries and letters

Place of Publication:

n.p.

Date of Publication:

n.d.

Vol:

1

Page:

412

Additional Comments:

Journal entry, 15 Feb 1834

Citation:

William Charles Macready, Frederick Pollock (ed.), Macready's Reminiscences, and selections from his diaries and letters, (n.p., n.d.), 1, p. 412, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=8022, accessed: 22 November 2024

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Additional Comments:

None