Record Number: 32425

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

(1) 'Just before supper I finished the 2nd volume of Mackail's "Life of W.M." There is nothing nicer than to lay aside a book with a certain satisfaction at getting it settled with and yet having enjoyed it thoroughly, is there? I certainly know Morris better than I did before, tho' in a way his character is a disappointment. You can't really think there's any resemblance between him and me? Of course I would give mine eyes to be like him in some ways, but I don't honestly think my temper is quite so bad.' (2) 'I am sorry you don't like Mackail's second volume. I suppose I am a bundle of contradictions, but I must say socialism does interest me.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 1 Dec 1915 and 31 Jan 1917

Country:

England

Time

evening: He finished the book 'just before supper'

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:

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:

John William Mackail

Title:

The Life of William Morris

Genre:

Essays / Criticism, History, Biography, Politics, Crafts, Arts / architecture

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

An edition in 2 volumes; the most likely publisher is Longmans

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32425

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:

270, 280

Additional Comments:

(1) From a letter to Arthur Greeves, 31 January 1917 (2) From a letter to the same, 20 February 1917

Citation:

C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.), C. S. Lewis Collected Letters, (London, 2000), 1, p. 270, 280, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32425, accessed: 04 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Lewis read, and thoroughly enjoyed, Mackail's 'Springs of Helicon' in December 1915. He describes Mackail as 'the man on Wm. Morris.' (Letter to his father, 4 December 1915, v. 1, p. 157). I have begun the date range here because I think 'Helicon' may have inspired Lewis to begin reading the 'Life'. However vague the beginning of the date range might be, it ends with the exact day on which Lewis finished the book.