Record Number: 28755

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Charlotte Bronte to Elizabeth Gaskell, regarding preparations for publication of Villette, 12 January 1853:

'I had felt, and expressed, to Mr Smith [publisher], reluctance to come in the way of "Ruth"; not that I think she (bless her very sweet face. I have already devoured Vol. I) would suffer from contact with "Villette" — we know not but that the damage might be the other way — but I have ever held comparisons to be odious, and would fain that neither I nor my friends should be made subjects for the same. Mr Smith proposes, accordingly, to defer the publication of my book [...]
'"Villette" has no right to push itself before "Ruth." There is a goodness, a philanthropic purpose, a social use in the latter, to which the former cannot for an instant pretend; nor can it claim precedence on the ground of surpassing power [...] As far as I have got in "Ruth" I think it excels "Mary Barton" for beauty [...] As to the style I found it such as my soul welcomes. Of the delineation of character I shall be better able to judge when I get to the end, but may say in passing — that Sally, the old servant, seems to be an "apple of gold," deserving to be "set in a picture of silver."'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1 Dec 1852 and 12 Jan 1853

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:

Charlotte Brontë

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

21 Apr 1816

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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Elizabeth Gaskell

Title:

Ruth (volume 1)

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

28755

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:

2:4

Page:

34-35

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Thomas James Wise and John Alexander Symington (ed.), The Brontes: Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence, (Oxford, 1980), 2:4, p. 34-35, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=28755, accessed: 01 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

None