Record Number: 32423

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'After wandering about the place and buying a second-hand copy of the "Gesta Romanorum" (of which more anon) I took my courage in both hands and knocked up the Master of University.... The "Gesta Romanorum" ... is a collection of mediaeval tales with morals attached to them: they are very like the Arabian Nights, tho' of course the characters and setting are chivalric instead of Eastern. It is not a first class book but it only cost me 1/- and helps to while away an hour or so between serious things.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 26 Jan 1917 and 31 Jan 1917

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

Great Bookham
Surrey
'Gastons'
Probably also Oxford, and the train journey from Oxford to Gt. Bookham

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:

Adult (18-100+)

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:

[Anon] [Anon]

Title:

Gesta Romanorum

Genre:

Other religious, Fiction, Miscellany / Anthology, Mediaeval anecdotes, each with a moral reflection attached.

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Please see 'Additional Comments' below

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32423

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:

268-69

Additional Comments:

(1) From a letter to Arthur Greeves, 28 January 1917 The Master of University College at this time was Reginald W Macan. Lewis was in Oxford because the College had awarded him a scholarship.

Citation:

C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 268-69, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32423, accessed: 25 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

I think the most likely edition would be one of those translated from the Latin by Charles Swan, for example: 'Gesta Romanorum Translated from the Latin, with preliminary observations and copious notes, by Charles Swan and a preface by E. A. Baker, Routledge, 1905.' By this stage in his life Lewis could read Latin without difficulty, but since he bought this book simply 'to while away an hour or so between serious things', a translation seems more likely.