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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 32366


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I am rather surprised at your remark about "Persuasion", as it seemed to me very good — though not quite in her usual manner. I mean it is more romantic and less humorous than the others, while the inevitable love interest, instead of being perfunctory as in "Emma" and "Mansfield Park" is the real point of the story. Of course I admit that's not quite the style we have learned to expect from Jane Austen, but still don't you think it is rather interesting to see an author trying his — or her — hand at something outside their own "line of business"?'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 19 Sep 1914 and 22 May 1916

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

Great Bookham
Surrey
'Gastons'

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:

Clive Staples Lewis

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

29 Nov 1898

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Student

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Jane Austen

Title:

Persuasion

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

32366

Source:

Print

Author:

C. S. Lewis

Editor:

Walter Hooper

Title:

C. S. Lewis Collected Letters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

2000

Vol:

1

Page:

181-82

Additional Comments:

From a letter to Arthur Greeves, Monday 22 May 1916

Citation:

C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 181-82, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32366, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

No date is given for Lewis's reading experience, which is described in response to Greeves's comments. I have assumed it took place during his time with Mr Kirkpatrick.

   
   
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