Record Number: 33896

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Hudson recalled how, preoccupied with the prospect of his mother's death and it effect on him: 'Then one day, with my mind in this troubled state, in reading George Combe's "Physiology" [probably actually Combes' book on phrenology, see additional comments below] I came upon a passage in which the question of the desire for immortality is discussed, is contention beng that it is not universal and as a proof of this he affirms that he himself had no such desire.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Between 1856 and 1857

Country:

Argentina

Time

daytime

Place:

city: Quilmes
La Plata, South of Buenos Aires
specific address: Los Veinte Cinco Ombus

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:

William Henry Hudson

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

4 Aug 1841

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Field naturalist, author

Religion:

Protestant (Anglican) in childhood only

Country of Origin:

Argentina

Country of Experience:

Argentina

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

George Combe

Title:

A System of Phrenology

Genre:

Philosophy, Science, Medicine

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

first publ. 1830 Edinburgh: J. Anderson.

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

33896

Source:

Print

Author:

William Henry Hudson

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Far Away and Long Ago: A History of my Early Life

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1918

Vol:

n/a

Page:

310

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

William Henry Hudson, Far Away and Long Ago: A History of my Early Life, (London, 1918), p. 310, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=33896, accessed: 20 April 2024

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Additional Comments:

George Combe did not write a physiology text as such, but his work on phrenology (containing some basic neurological concepts as well as philosophical musings, includes at least one passage which reflects almost exactly what Hudson recalled p.188 in 1830 edn. at archive.org. Andrew Combe (1797-1847) his younger brother wrote "Principles of Physiology" and other works about physiology and digestion. Both were interested in phrenology. Hudson may easily have confused the titles.