Record Number: 31449

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at 72 Shinfield Road Monday 23rd Feb. 1942. A. G. Joselin in the Chair
1. Minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
[...]
3. The chairman reported that the committee had considered how best to plan an evening of “discussion” and could think of no better way than to hold a Brains Trust in which all could take part. Members had been asked to send in questions and a list of 21 [only twelve are listed and discussed] was before us [...].
4. After an interval for refreshment and for a general sharpening of wits, the fun began. It would be impossible without giving a verbatim report to do justice to the chopping of logic and the wise-cracking which took place.
[...]
The desirability of an International language found the Club very divided in its opinion and good arguments were put forward on both sides. F. E. Pollard wondered whether the capacity to talk didn’t increase problems rather than help to solve them. We think Rosamund Wallis was about to deliver a profound dissertation on the subject, but her opening remark “Take Latin” met with such general approval that the question was considered answered.
Finally we got considerable amusement out of guessing who had asked each question.
List of Questions.
1). What are the criteria of classic & classical in the Arts?
2). Why do wild duck fly in V formation?
3). Is emotion responsible for physical sensation?
4). Do you think that the problems confronting the world at the present time could be more easily solved if all spoke the same language?
5.) What is the origin of: Limerick, Left in the Lurch, Sent to Coventry?
6.) Does the moon really affect the tides or do both obey some fundamental law?
7). Is it possible to teach every child to sing?
8). Who and where are the Prophets of today?
8). Why used it to be the correct thing for a bride to weep at her wedding?
10.) What animals sleep standing and why?
11). How do hawks hover?
12). At which incident in History would you most like to have been present?'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

23 Feb 1942

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 72, Shinfield Road

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:

Reader:

Arnold Joselin

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker

Country of Origin:

Unknown

Country of Experience:

England

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

Members of the XII Book Club

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

[Unidentified member of the XII Book Club (edited by a committee of the club)]

Title:

[Brains trust question on the desirability of an international language]

Genre:

Politics, Ephemera, Questions for discussion groups; language; internationalism

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

reading group

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Source Information:

Record ID:

31449

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Margaret Dilks

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

113–8

Additional Information:

Margaret Dilks was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1940 to 1970. It is inferred from this, and from the handwriting, that she was the author of this set of minutes.

Citation:

Margaret Dilks, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943), private collection, 113–8, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=31449, accessed: 18 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).