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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 12569


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell, on books lent to herself and her siblings, when children, during visits to her uncle Edwards (a barrister): 'My uncle was so particular about his books that he used to declare that when a child's finger had touched one it was spoilt. Acting upon this idea, he gave up certain books to us, when as children we stayed with him at Binstead, on condition of our never touching any others. My brothers had Glanvill's [italics]History of the Witches[end italics], and we four [Sewell girls] had a handsome edition of the [italics]Arabian Nights' Entertainments[end italics], which, being unexpurgated, was not the wisest choice that could have been made, though it gave me hours of entrancing delight at the time, and taught me to understand allusions to tales which have become part of general literature.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1825 and 31 Dec 1825

Country:

Great Britain

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Binstead

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:

Elizabeth Sewell

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

19 Feb 1815

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

child

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

Great Britain

Country of Experience:

Great Britain

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

anon

Title:

Arabian Nights' Entertainments

Genre:

Fiction, Miscellany / Anthology

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (private library)


Source Information:

Record ID:

12569

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Editor:

Eleanor L. Sewell

Title:

The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1908

Vol:

n/a

Page:

23

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell, (London, 1908), p. 23, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12569, accessed: 08 November 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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