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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 27576


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I do hope you are not too disgusted with me for not thanking you for the "[The Brothers] Karamazov" before. It was very dear of you to remember me; and of course I was extremely interested. But it's an impossible lump of valuable matter. It's terrifically bad and impressive and exasperating. Moreover I don't know what D[ostoevsky] stands for or reveals, but I do know he is too Russian for me. It sounds to me like some fierce mouthings from prehistoric ages. I uderstand that the Russians have just 'discovered' him. I wish them joy. Of course your wife's translation is wonderful.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 27 Jan 1912 and 27 May 1912

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Orlestone nr. Ashford
county: Kent
specific address: Capel House

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:

Joseph Conrad

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

3 Dec 1857

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry
'Szlachta', or Polish landed gentry/nobility

Occupation:

Master mariner and author

Religion:

Roman Catholic

Country of Origin:

Poland

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Title:

The Brothers Karamazov

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Heinemann 1912 trans. by Constance Garnett.

Provenance

owned
gift from translator's husband


Source Information:

Record ID:

27576

Source:

Print

Author:

Joseph Conrad

Editor:

Karl Frederick R. and Laurence Davies

Title:

The Collected Letters of Joseph Conrad Volume 5, 1912-1916

Place of Publication:

Cambridge

Date of Publication:

1996

Vol:

5

Page:

70

Additional Comments:

Letter from Joseph Conrad to Edward Garnett dated 27 May 1912, Capel House.

Citation:

Joseph Conrad, Karl Frederick R. and Laurence Davies (ed.), The Collected Letters of Joseph Conrad Volume 5, 1912-1916, (Cambridge, 1996), 5, p. 70, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=27576, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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