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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 1582


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Report of prison chaplain on the progress of prisoner: "From his first arrival in gaol, he had been attended by the schoolmaster; and one day, when I examined his progress in learning to read, I was surprised and delighted to find that he had not only acquired the mechanical ability to spell and read words of one syllable, but, which was of much more consequence, that he was applying the simple lessons in the 'Child's First Book' to the very best purpose. The great truths contained in the little words of that book were finding their way into his mind..."

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1840 and 31 Dec 1841

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Preston
other location: Gaol

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:

J.G.

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Labourer (non-agricultural)

Occupation:

casual manual labour before turning to crime

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Title:

Child's First Book

Genre:

Other religious, Children's Lit, Textbook / self-education

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (other)
borrowed in gaol


Source Information:

Record ID:

1582

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

Parliamentary Papers, Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Juveniles [Commons] 1852 (facsimile edn Irish University Press, Shannon, 1970), p. 429

Additional Information:

Appendix no.3: Extracts from the Journal of the Chaplain of the County House of Correction, Preston, relating to juvenile criminals (b)

Citation:

Parliamentary Papers, Select Committee on Criminal and Destitute Juveniles [Commons] 1852 (facsimile edn Irish University Press, Shannon, 1970), p. 429, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=1582, accessed: 19 April 2024


Additional Comments:

Statement mentions that prisoner 29 years of age

   
   
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