Record Number: 30832

---

Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I have begun reading Genesis in Hebrew with Dr R[osen, the German Consul]! It's frightfully thrilling — but as yet I have only read one verse so I don't feel to have become very intimate with it as a book. It's extraordinary near Arabic — much nearer than any two European languages I can think of. Arabic is getting on slowly and is as fascinating as ever.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 8 Feb 1900 and 14 Feb 1900

Country:

Palestine

Time

evening

Place:

city: Jerusalem
specific address: probably at the German Consulate, where Gertrude bell took her meals
location in dwelling: probably sitting room or library

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:

Gertrude Bell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

16 Jul 1868

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

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

Religion:

originally Christian (Anglican) by now declared atheist

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

Palestine

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

---

Text Being Read:

Author:

Title:

Genesis

Genre:

Bible

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Hebrew edition

Provenance

unknown
possibly borrowed from the Consular library

---

Source Information:

Record ID:

30832

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

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

Additional Information:

Letter from Gertrude Bell to Hugh Bell 11 February 1900 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=1127

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=30832, accessed: 10 June 2024

---

Additional Comments:

See also diary entries for 8, 13 and 14 February 1900, including a further reference to shared reading in Hebrew 'Dr R. [Rosen] and I rode after lunch but he was late and I improved the shining hour by reading Genesis with Kaminitz!' ('Kaminitz' appears to have been an individual rather than the author of a text.)