Record Number: 32419

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

(1) 'Unfortunately we have not got a complete set of Scott here - only odd Everyman copies.... What is "Guy Mannering" like? The alternative title of "The Astrologer" sounds attractive but of course it may not have much to do with it.' (2) 'I tried to start "Guy Mannering" on Saturday but some how it didn't grip me.' (3) '... whether I read "Guy Mannering" or no I shall not take to skimming...'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

18 Nov 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

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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

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Walter Scott

Title:

Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer

Genre:

Fiction, History, Astrology / alchemy / occult, Historical novel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1906 (Everyman's Library, no.133)

Provenance

borrowed (private library)

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32419

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:

240, 257, 260

Additional Comments:

(1) From a letter to Arthur Greeves, 25 October 1916 (2) From a letter to the same, 22 November 1916 (3) From a letter to the same, 29 November 1916

Citation:

C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 240, 257, 260, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32419, accessed: 29 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

Lewis specifies Saturday; in 1916, 18 November was a Saturday, hence the exact date. From his comment 'whether I read "Guy Mannering" or no' I conclude that he pursued it no further on this occasion. From his remarks in the first letter quoted above, I conclude also that the copy he used was an Everyman from Mr Kirkpatrick's collection. Lewis did take up this novel again at some later time: in a letter to his brother (13 April 1929, Letters, v.1, p.788) he writes 'There is something to be said for Julia Mannering.... The beginning of Guy Mannering is excellent.' 'The beginning'? I wonder if he ever finished it? I think he had to, because he had to examine students on their knowledge of it: 'In answer to a question from a paper on "Guy Mannering" "Would you have liked Colonel Mannering as a father?" ... one youth sagely replied that he would. It is true that Mannering was cold, suspicious, autocratic etc., "but he was very rich and I think he would have made an excellent father." That boy should be sent to the City at once...' (Letter to his father, 29 July 1927, Letters, v.1, p.714)