Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 8838


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Mary Berry, in reflections on reading (1798): 'When I read "Paradise Lost," I am no more able to conceive the powers of imagination and genius exerted by Milton in the composition of that poem, than I am able to conceive the intellect of Sir Isaac Newton in the demonstration of the phenomena of the universe. Both seem to me beings more exalted above myself in the scale of intellectual perfection, than I am above the brute creation.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 16 Mar 1763 and 31 Dec 1798

Country:

unknown

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Mary Berry

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

16 Mar 1763

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

Anglican

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

unknown

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

John Milton

Title:

Paradise Lost

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

8838

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Lady Theresa Lewis

Title:

Extracts of the Journal and Correspondence of Miss Berry From the Year 1783 to 1852

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1865

Vol:

2

Page:

80

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Lady Theresa Lewis (ed.), Extracts of the Journal and Correspondence of Miss Berry From the Year 1783 to 1852, (London, 1865), 2, p. 80, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=8838, accessed: 25 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design