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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 23115


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Journal 20 Dec 1837: 'Afterwards I went to Clapham to visit a poor dying converted Jew, who had sent a letter to beg me to go and see him ... A man of pleasing countenance, greatly emaciated, was lying on a little white bed; all clean and in order, his Bible by his side, and animated almost beyond description at seeing me; he kissed my hand, the tears came into his eyes, his poor face flushed, and he was ready almost to raise himself out of his bed. I sat down, and tried to quiet him, and by degrees succeeded. We had a very interesting conversation; he had been in the practice of frequently attending my readings at Newgate, apparently with great attention; latterly I had not seen him, and was ready to suppose, that like many others his zeal was of short duration; but I lately heard that he had been ill ... I found that when he used to come so often to Newgate, he was a man of good moral character, seeking the truth ... he said that his visits to Newgate had been to him beyond going to any church; indeed I little know how much was going on in his heart. He requested me to read a Psalm that I had read one day in Newgate, the 107th. This I did, and he appeared to deeply feel it'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

20 Dec 1837

Country:

England

Time

daytime

Place:

city: London, Clapham
location in dwelling

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Elizabeth Fry

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

21 May 1780

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

wife of merchant

Religion:

Quaker

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

converted Jew


Additional Comments:

nee Gurney



Text Being Read:

Author:

[n/a]

Title:

Bible (Psalms)

Genre:

Bible

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

23115

Source:

Print

Author:

Elizabeth Fry

Editor:

Katharine Fry

Title:

Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1847

Vol:

2

Page:

137

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Elizabeth Fry, Katharine Fry (ed.), Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with extracts from her Journal and letters, edited by two of her daughters, (London, 1847), 2, p. 137, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=23115, accessed: 26 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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