Record Number: 5831

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

During my stay with the clergyman my mother again became a servant in the family and well do I remember reading by the kitchen fire, during the long winter nights. My favourite books were two folio volumes, with illustrations- one a history of Europe, the other a history of England. My interest in those books was intense, and many times have I thought whilst poring over them, 'shall I ever see any of the places here described?'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1811 and 31 Dec 1817

Country:

England

Time

evening: Evening, during the winter.

Place:

county: Yorkshire
location in dwelling: The kitchen in front of the fire at the clergyman's house.

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:

James Watson

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1799

Socio-Economic Group:

Labourer (agricultural)

Occupation:

Apprenticed as a general servant to a rural clergyman inYorkshire.

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

England

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:

Title:

[A history of Europe]

Genre:

History, Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

5831

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

David Vincent

Title:

Testaments of Radicalism

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1977

Vol:

n/a

Page:

100

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

David Vincent (ed.), Testaments of Radicalism, (London, 1977), p. 100, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=5831, accessed: 23 May 2025

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Additional Comments:

None