Record Number: 28675

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

W. M. Heald to Ellen Nussey, 8 January 1850: 'The celebrated "Shirley" has just found its way hither. And as one always reads a book with more interest when one has a correct insight into the writer's designs, I write to ask a favour [...] the story goes that either I or my father [...] are part of "Currer Bell's" stock-in-trade, under the title of Mr Hall, in that Mr Hall is represented as black, bilious, and of dismal aspect, stooping a trifle, and indulging a little now and then in the indigenous [Yorkshire] dialect. This seems to sit very well on your humble servant -- other traits do better for my good father than myself [speculates further as to originals of various characters and settings in Shirley] [...] Now pray let us get a full light on all other names and localities that are adumbrated in this said "Shirley." [...] as I or mine are part of the stock-in-trade, I think I have an equitable claim to this intelligence'.

Century:

1800-1849, 1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Dec 1849 and 8 Jan 1850

Country:

England

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:

William Margetson Heald

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1801

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

Clergyman

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Charlotte Brontë

Title:

Shirley

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1849

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

28675

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Thomas James Wise and John Alexander Symington

Title:

The Brontes: Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

2:3

Page:

64-65

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas James Wise and John Alexander Symington (ed.), The Brontes: Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence, (Oxford, 1980), 2:3, p. 64-65, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28675, accessed: 16 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Source eds note that W. M. Hall was 'the prototype of "Cyril Hall" [in Shirley]' (see p.64).