Record Number: 20808

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Here was an excellent library; particularly, a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnson was often very busy. One day Mr Wise read to us a dissertation which he was preparing for the press, intitled "A History and Chronology of the fabulous Ages".'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Jun 1754 and 1 Oct 1754

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Ellsfield
county: Oxfordshire
specific address: home of Mr Wise
location in dwelling: library

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:

Samuel Johnson

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

18 Sep 1709

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

n/a

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:

[unknown]

Title:

[books of Northern literature]

Genre:

Unknown

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ

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Source Information:

Record ID:

20808

Source:

Print

Author:

James Boswell

Editor:

R.W. Chapman

Title:

Life of Johnson

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

n/a

Page:

192

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 192, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=20808, accessed: 25 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791. 'Memorial' sent to Boswell by Thomas Warton.