Record Number: 32929
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
‘Well … our gallant regiment … have been in it a damn sight more than ever they expected, by the Lord. We are hardened veterans, fed up to the neck, muddy to the eyes, for the weather is execrable. And like Justice Shallow we have had our losses. Two of the nicest chaps in the whole crowd killed. And of our very best Lieutenants more gone than I like. So it goes with us … Have you seen "Child Lovers", W. H. D.’s new book? It has some good stuff in it—but he would do well to shut up shop … Mrs Abercrombie has sent me [Lascelle Abercrombie’s] "Deborah", which I like immensely, except the "Gabriel Hounds", which are poor tykes not worthy of poetic license. And the blank verse, also very fine, is hardly often enough simple. It is too skilled, too educated … But how good the storm is! And the marsh! And Barnaby! … One thing that runs continually in my head out here is L. Binyon’s “To the Fallen” which delights me ever more and more. Did you see Bridges’ Sonnett on Kitcher? That was fine too … I would not believe the news at first—it sounded so like the obvious rumour. Oh, but it’s raining like the blazes!’
Century:1900-1945
Date:Between 15 Jun 1916 and 22 Jun 1916
Country:France
Timen/a
Place:city: Laventie
county: Pas-de-Calais
other location: billets
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:28 Aug 1890
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:Private, Gloucestershire Regiment
Religion:Christian (Anglican)
Country of Origin:England
Country of Experience:France
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Deborah
Genre:Drama, Poetry
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceowned
Source Information:
Record ID:32929
Source:Ivor Gurney
Editor:R. K. R. Thornton
Title:Ivor Gurney: Collected Letters
Place of Publication:Manchester
Date of Publication:1991
Vol:n/a
Page:106-7
Additional Comments:
Letter to J. W. Haines 22 June 1916, from billets at Laventie
Citation:
Ivor Gurney, R. K. R. Thornton (ed.), Ivor Gurney: Collected Letters, (Manchester, 1991), p. 106-7, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32929, accessed: 28 March 2024
Additional Comments:
None