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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 21141


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'He censured Ruffhead's "Life of Pope"; -and said, "he knew nothing of Pope, and nothing of poetry." He praised Dr. Joseph Warton's "Essay on Pope"; but said, he supposed we should have no more of it, as the author had not been able to persuade the world to think of Pope as he did. Boswell. "Why, sir, should that prevent him from continuing his work? He is an ingenious counsel who has made the most of his cause: he is not obliged to gain it." Johnson. "But, sir, there is a difference when the cause is of a man's own making".'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 31 Mar 1772

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Samuel Johnson

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

18 Sep 1709

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

Anglican

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Owen Ruffhead

Title:

Life of Alexander Pope

Genre:

Biography

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

21141

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:

474-5

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson, (Oxford, 1980), p. 474-5, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=21141, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791.

   
   
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