Record Number: 8671
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'... he devotes a whole serious and excellent essay to an exploration of the fame of Silas Hocking, who wrote novels calculated to please "the taste of the Methodist million, who was unheard of in Knightsbridge but wildly popular in the dissenting provinces". Apart from any other interest, this essay throws light on Bennett's own reading background; he discusses the debate between Puritanism and the arts, describes the deep suspicion with which all fiction was regarded in Hocking circles and says: "How often have I heard the impatient words: 'This is too exciting for me; if I went on I shouldn't be able to leave it'." It must have been up in Burslem, where reading had recently been regarded as a wicked sin, that he heard such remarks.'
Century:1850-1899
Date:Between 1 Jan 1890 and 31 Dec 1901
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:city: London
Type of Experience(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:27 May 1867
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:Writer / editor
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
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:unknown
Genre:Fiction
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:8671
Source:Margaret Drabble
Editor:n/a
Title:Arnold Bennett
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:1974
Vol:n/a
Page:60
Additional Comments:
Refers to an essay in Fame and Fiction, 1901, a collection of Bennett's articles originally written for the review magazine Academy.
Citation:
Margaret Drabble, Arnold Bennett, (London, 1974), p. 60, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=8671, accessed: 22 November 2024
Additional Comments:
Secondary source
