Record Number: 17641
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
Elizabeth Barrett to Arabella Moulton-Barrett, 26 July 1847: 'We passed the time [at the monastery at Vallombrosa] till monday, .. reading the Life of San Gualberto (who established the monastery) & learning from that only book within our reach, how spiritual holiness & benediction float in the air of the place [...] & how no mortal soul can approach the mountain, without partaking the sanctifying advantage.'
Century:1800-1849
Date:Between 4 Jul 1847 and 26 Jul 1847
Country:Italy
Timen/a
Place:n/a
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reading Group:Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Unknown
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:Writers
Religion:various
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:Italy
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Life of St Giovanni Gualberto
Genre:Other religious, Biography
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceread in situ
Source Information:
Record ID:17641
Source:n/a
Editor:Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis
Title:The Brownings' Correspondence
Place of Publication:Winfield
Date of Publication:1998
Vol:14
Page:257
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis (ed.), The Brownings' Correspondence, (Winfield, 1998), 14, p. 257, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=17641, accessed: 16 February 2026
Additional Comments:
Source eds note that several accounts of San Gualberto's life existed in both verse and prose at time of reading; see p.261 n.11. In a letter of 7 August 1847 to Julia Martin, Barrett Browning describes how the Life of San Gualberto was 'laid on the table for the edification of strangers' (see p.275 in source).
