Record Number: 27129

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'[John Murray] was confirmed in his idea that Walter Scott was the author [of Waverley] after carefully reading the book. Canning called on Murray next day; said he had begun it, found it very dull, and concluded: "You are quite mistaken; it cannot be by Walter Scott." But a few days later he wrote to Murray: "Yes, it is so; you are right: Walter Scott, and no one else."'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 7 Jul 1814 and 31 Dec 1814

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:

John Murray

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1778

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Publisher

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

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:

Walter Scott

Title:

Waverley

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Published by Constable and Company, 7 July 1814

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

27129

Source:

Print

Author:

Samuel Smiles

Editor:

n/a

Title:

A Publisher and His Friends: Memoir and Correspondence of the Late John Murray

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1891

Vol:

1

Page:

244

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Samuel Smiles, A Publisher and His Friends: Memoir and Correspondence of the Late John Murray, (London, 1891), 1, p. 244, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=27129, accessed: 28 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

See also p.243 in source for details on date of publication of text; also noted here that Murray sent early copy of text that he had read to Canning, having written 'By Walter Scott' on its title-page.