Record Number: 31107

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I am longing to hear what you think of "D.[David]G.[Grieve]" I read the first volume this morning — oh! how dull it is, how dull! how full of unnecessary detail, how flatlessly and pointlessly written! I like some of the childhood scenes, though I thought them nearly all in a measure spoilt by too great length and by that absolute want of humour which is characteristic of her. And why all that foolish ghost episode that leads to nothing, and why all those useless illnesses and deaths, and why all those long stories of the birth and parentage of each character? Then the Manchester part is awfully feeble and uninteresting — no I cannot think it will catch on even with the B.P. And all written with such effort and such painstaking — that's the pity of it. I'm bound to say however that I think the English is very slipshod.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between Jan 1892 and Feb 1892

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

city: London
specific address: 7 Hans Place

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:

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:

originally Christian (Anglican) by now declared atheist

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:

Mary Augusta (Mrs Humphry) Ward

Title:

A History of David Grieve

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

London: Smith, Elder 1892 (3 vols)

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

31107

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

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

Additional Information:

Letter from Gertrude Bell to Florence Bell ? February 1892 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=59

Citation:

Gertude Bell Archive, Newcastle University http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=31107, accessed: 02 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

See also letter to Florence Bell 8 February 1892 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=70 in which Gertrude Bell describes Henry James's reaction to this novel: ' I went on to Audley Sq where presently Henry James appeared and delivered himself also on the subject of "David". Oh it was so good — he is the critic — so moderate, so just: and so contemptuous! Every sentence hit the right nail on the head, and every nail ran down into the coffin of Mrs Ward's reputation as a novelist.' It is not clear whether Gertrude Bell had herself read the novel at that stage.