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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 24061


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Robert Southey to Charles Collins, 10-11 December 1791: 'As I have nothing else to say take a story I read yesterday as a true one which strikes me as an instance of more refined barbarity than any in the annals of cruelty – a prisoner in the dreary cells of the Bastile had familiarized a spider the only tenant except himself of the miserable spot. to a man secluded thus from the light of day & every living creature this reptile was a kind of mournful companion. the Keeper at length took notice of it & told the Governor – the Governor commanded him to tread upon it.'

Century:

Date:

10 Dec 1791

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Bath

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:

Robert Southey

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

12 Aug 1774

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



Text Being Read:

Author:

Mary Wollstonecraft

Title:

Original Stories from Real Life

Genre:

Fiction, Social Science, Biography

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

London, 1791

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

24061

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 2. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 17 April 2009.

Additional Information:

n/a

Citation:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 2. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 17 April 2009., http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24061, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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