Record Number: 22953

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The two [italics] wittiest [end italics] things in our Language in Verse & Prose are Dr Young's Conjectures on Original Composition I think, and Dr Swift's Ballad on the South Sea. The two Tragedies which go nearest one's Heart I think - in our Language I mean - are Southern's Fatal Marriage and Lillo's Fatal Curiosity. The two best Comic Scenes in our Language according to my Taste are the Scene between Squire Richard & Myrtilla in the Provoked Husband, and that between Sir Joseph Wittol, Nol Bluff and Sharper in the Old Batchelor - not the kicking scene but the friendly one. The two best [italics] Declamatory [end italics] Scenes where the Sentiments and Language are most perfect, seem to be the Scene between Juba and Syphax in Addison's Cato, & that between the two Ladies in Johnson's Irene. I know that both are unDramatic, the latter more peculiarly so, than ever was, or ever ought to have been hazarded - but for Language & Sentiment it is most Superb. - Superieure as the French say. Johnson says the finest Tragic Scene in our Language, for Drama sentiment, Language, Power over the Heart, & every Requisite for Theatre or Closet, is the Tomb Scene in the Mourning Bride. [italics] I [end italics] think, that trying to be [italics] every [end italics] thing it escapes being [italics] anything [end italics]'

Century:

Date:

Until: 31 Dec 1778

Country:

n/a

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

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Hester Lynch Thrale

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

27 Jan 1741

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

Wales

Country of Experience:

n/a

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Samuel Johnson

Title:

Irene: a Historical Tragedy

Genre:

Drama

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

22953

Source:

Print

Author:

Hester Lynch Thrale

Editor:

Katharine C. Balderston

Title:

Thraliana

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1951

Vol:

I

Page:

354

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Hester Lynch Thrale, Katharine C. Balderston (ed.), Thraliana, (Oxford, 1951), I, p. 354, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=22953, accessed: 18 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

None