Record Number: 13410

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I am much obliged by your present of The Monastery, which I have read, and which I must frankly confess I admire less than any of the others - much less. Such I think you will find the judgement of the public to be. The idea of painting ancient manners in a fictitious story and in well-known scenery is admirable, and the writer has admirable talents for it; but nothing is done without pains, and I doubt whether pains have been taken in The Monastery, - if they have, they have failed. It is quite childish to introduce supernatural agency; as much of the terrors and follies of supersition as you please, but no actual ghosts and hobgoblins. I recommend one novel every year, and more pains. So much money is worth getting; so much deserved fame is worth keeping, so much amusement we ought all to strive to continue for the public good. You will excuse my candour - you know I am your wellwisher. I was the first to praise Ivanhoe, as I shall be to praise the next, if I can do so conscientiously'.

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Until: 25 Mar 1820

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Foston
county: Yorkshire

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:

Sydney Smith

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

3 Jun 1771

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

clergyman

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:

Walter Scott

Title:

The Monastery

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned
present from Constable

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Source Information:

Record ID:

13410

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Nowell C. Smith

Title:

The Letters of Sydney Smith

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1953

Vol:

I

Page:

350-1

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Nowell C. Smith (ed.), The Letters of Sydney Smith, (Oxford, 1953), I, p. 350-1, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=13410, accessed: 29 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

Letter to Archibald Constable