Record Number: 31798

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s output, and the development of his character and beliefs.

7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”

8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.

9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

17 Jan 1939

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 70, Northcourt Avenue

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:

Victor Alexander

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1887

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

Country of Origin:

n/a

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:

Victor Alexander

Title:

Minutes of the meeting of the XII Book Club held 6 Dec 1938

Genre:

Minutes

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Notebook

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

reading group

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Source Information:

Record ID:

31798

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Victor Alexander

Title:

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

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

33–6

Additional Information:

Victor Alexander’s authorship is inferred from the fact that he was secretary to the XII Book Club at this time, and from the handwriting.

Citation:

Victor Alexander, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943), private collection, 33–6, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=31798, accessed: 25 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

It is assumed that it was Victor Alexander, as secretary of the club, who read out the minutes of the previous meeting.
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).