Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 30911


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'We pitched the men's tent and lighted a great fire at which we dried ourselves — I was wet too. In a moment's sunshine we pitched the other tents, and then came thunder and hail and rain so heavy that the pools stood twinkling in the thirsty sand. I sat in my tent and read "Hamlet" from beginning to end and, as I read, the world swung back into focus. Princes and powers of Arabia stepped down into their true place and there rose up above them the human soul conscious and answerable to itself, made with such large discourse, looking before and after. '

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

17 Feb 1914

Country:

Iraq (Mesopotamia)

Time

daytime

Place:

other location: personal tent in desert camp

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:

Linguist, traveller, archaeologist, information gatherer for British governement and Middle East political advisor

Religion:

originally Christian (Anglican) by now declared atheist

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

Iraq (Mesopotamia)

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

William Shakespeare

Title:

Hamlet

Genre:

Drama

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

30911

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

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

Additional Information:

Diary entry 17 February 1914 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/diary_details.php?diary_id=1121

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=30911, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design