Record Number: 9760

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

From Harriet Martineau's account of Queen Victoria's coronation: 'About nine, the first gleams of the sun slanted into the abbey [...] The brightness, vastness, and dreamy magnificence of the scene produced a strange effect of exhaustion and sleepiness [...] I determined to withdraw my senses from the scene, in order to reserve my strength [...] for the ceremonial to come. I had carried a book; and I read and ate a sandwich, leaning against my friendly pillar, till I felt refreshed.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

28 Jun 1838

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

city: London
specific address: Westminster Abbey

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:

Harriet Martineau

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

12 Jun 1802

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer

Religion:

Unitarian

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:

unknown

Title:

unknown

Genre:

Unknown

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

9760

Source:

Print

Author:

Harriet Martineau

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Harriet Martineau's Autobiography

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1877

Vol:

2

Page:

124

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Harriet Martineau, Harriet Martineau's Autobiography, (London, 1877), 2, p. 124, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=9760, accessed: 13 May 2025

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Additional Comments:

None