'The novels of Scott and Dickens had long been her favourite reading, but of late years she had become interested in the work of George Borrow, a Norfolk man who had recently gained a certain measure of fame.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Amelia Opie Print: Book
'Arthur became interested in "humanity" when he discovered George Borrow's semi-autobiographical novel "Lavengro" (1851), which contains the author's adventures among gypsies; as a result Arthur began studying Romany. For the remainder of his life he was absorbed by both the gypsies and their language, perhaps because of their rootlessness and wanderings'.
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Arthur Symons Print: Book
Elizabeth Barrett to Mary Russell Mitford, 22 July 1843:
'Mr Borrow [italics]is[end italics] a very original & characteristic writer -- I was delighted with
his book [...] the Bible Society committee was not satisfied with him. They call him wild I
believe & wanting in gravity [...] but I admire Mr Borrow, & like him all the better for putting
off the conventional demureness of a pattern missionary, & daring to be a [italics]man[end
italics] in spirit & in truth.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Barrett Print: Book
Sunday 11 January 1936: 'A very fine day [...] I read Borrow's Wild Wales, into which I can plunge head foremost [...] then [...] to tea with Nessa [sister] [...] Home, & dine alone, & sleep over Mr Clarkson's memoirs. He had a sexual kink, & a passion for fish'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readiings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John Ridges Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Ann Smith Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Miss Marriage Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: E.P. Kaye Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Rowntree Print: Book
'Papers were then read by Mr Ridges on the Works of Borrow & on the Life of Borrow by R. Heelas. Readings were given by Mrs W.H. Smith from the Bible in Spain, Miss Marriage & Mr Kaye from Lavengro & H.R. Smith & W.J. Rowntree from Romany Rye'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
Charlotte Bronte to George Smith, 7 December 1848:
'Allow me to mention that my father, as well as my sisters and myself, have derived great pleasure from some of the books you sent; he is now reading Borrow's "Bible in Spain" with interest, and under present circumstances [i.e. terminal illness of his daughter Emily] whatever agreeably occupies his mind must be truly beneficial.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Patrick Brontë Print: Book
Charlotte Bronte to her publisher, W. S. Williams, 4 February 1849:
'I send the parcel [returning books loaned by Williams] up without delay [...] Emerson's essays I read with much interest and often with admiration, but they are of mixed gold and clay — deep and invigorating truth — dreary and depressing fallacy seem to me combined therein. In George Borrow's works I found a wild fascination, a vivid graphic power of description, a fresh originality, an athletic simplicity (so to speak) which give them a stamp of their own. After reading his "Bible in Spain" I felt as if I had actually travelled at his side [...] wandered in the hilly wilderness of the Sierras — encountered and conversed with Manchegan, Castillian, Andalusian, Arragonese, and above all with the savage gitanos.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Brontë Print: Book
'At 5 the Chelabi [?local chief] arrived with a large and picturesque following robed in white and armed with rifles. After visiting me he held a mejlis in the der. Before sunset 14 men came in from Zakhuran, all swearing they knew nothing of the matter [a robbery at the camp the previous night]. Read the "Bible in Spain" — splendid book.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell Print: Book
One can say of the more reticent British that, as
you come to know them, some are discovered and
some are found out. My father was of those who
are discovered. 'The Times' came to him
regularly, and he had a small shelf of books
which he read over and over, admitting a newcomer
now and then, after much deliberation. The whole
of George Borrow and of Charles Darwin, Hodson of
Hodson's Horse, Buckle's 'History of
Civilization', White's 'Selborne', Benvenuto
Cellini, and Sismondi's Italian Republics are
what I remember.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Stark Print: Book
