Record Number: 12578

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell on her reading at home in the Isle of Wight, after leaving her Bath boarding school in 1830: 'I used to study by myself, for I knew that I was woefully ignorant. Such books as Russell's "History of Modern Europe" and Robertson's "Charles the Fifth", I read, and also Watts on the "Improvement of the Mind", and I plodded through an Italian history of the Venetian Doges, lent me by an intimate and valued friend of my father, Mr. Turnbull [...] I taught myself besides to read Spanish -- for having found a Spanish "Don Quixote" lying about, which no one claimed, I took possession of it, bought a grammar and dictionary, and set to work to master the contents of the books which I knew so well by name. The elements of botany on the Linnean system was another of my attempted acquirements, but I am afraid my studies were very superficial: I knew nothing perfectly, but I read everything that came in my way. There was an excellent town library in Newport, from which I could get any good modern works; and, beside the graver literature, I had always some lighter book on hand, and especially delighted in Walter Scott's novels and poetry. Byron, too was a great favourite.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1830 and 31 Dec 1830

Country:

Great Britain

Time

n/a

Place:

county: Isle of Wight

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:

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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

unknown

Title:

Spanish dictionary

Genre:

Textbook / self-education, Reference / General works, Languages

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12578

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:

42-43

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell, (London, 1908), p. 42-43, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12578, accessed: 18 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

None