Record Number: 30794

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The library was wonderfully interesting. They have the only complete MS of Aristophanes, of the 10th century, from which all the editions have been printed, Mr Hogarth read us passages from the "Frogs" out of it. But what thrilled me still more was an MS of Dante written by his son and first commentator, Pietro, which I was allowed to handle and read. So I turned to the 5th canto and read Dante's own description of Ravenna, Francesca's "Siede la terra dove nata fui". I felt stiff with excitement! There are lots of Dante relics there too.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

16 Apr 1896

Country:

Italy

Time

morning

Place:

city: Ravenna
specific address: Library (unspecified)

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Listener:

Gertrude Bell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

16 Jul 1868

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

Oxford graduate, language student, yet to take up formal occupation as archaeologist and political advisor

Religion:

Christian (Anglican) later declared herself atheist

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

Italy

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Aristophanes

Title:

The Frogs

Genre:

Classics, Drama, History, Politics

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ

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Source Information:

Record ID:

30794

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

Gertrude Bell Archive, Newcastle University Library http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk,

Additional Information:

Letter from Gertrude Bell to Florence Bell, 17 April 1896, Train between Ravenna and Rimini. http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=646

Citation:

Gertrude Bell Archive, Newcastle University Library http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk,, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=30794, accessed: 12 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

see also record ID 30793 for Gertrude Bell's reading of Dante.