'I don't at all know the books you refer to - I have not seen any of them. Mr Barrie's "Auld Licht Idylls," etc, I think exceedingly clever. Indeed there seems to me genius in them, though the Scotch is, as you say, much too provincial.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Oliphant Print: Book
[List of books read in 1943, in diary for 1943]:
'The Farthing Spinster; Guy Mannering; Whereas I was Blind; And So to Bath; The Story of San Michele; Attack Alarm; The Murders in Praed Street; Lover's Meeting; The Secret Battle; Witch Wood; MD - Doctor of Murder; Murder at the Keyhole; That Girl Ginger; Ten Minute Alibi; Diary of a District Officer; Tarzan the Untamed; Peter Abelard; Pip; Pied Piper; A Man Lay Dead; Random Harvest; Madame Curie; Stalky and Co; Bellarion; Down the Garden Path; The Three Musketeers vol 1; The House in Cornwall; A Tall Ship; The Two Saplings; Farewell Victoria; Quinneys; House of Terror; Penguin Parade 4; Guy Mannering[presumably a re-reading]; The Man Born to be King; Casterton Papers; Old Saint Paul's; The Moon is Down; 1066 and all That; My Brother Jonathon; Gulliver's Travels; Ensign Knightley; Men Against Death; Fame is the Spur; Gone with the Wind; Mesmer; First Nights; The Hound of the Baskervilles; Little Gidding; Beau Geste; Beau Sabreur; The Amazing Theatre; The Pleasure of Your Company; Dandelion Days; Humour and Fantasy; Juno and the Paycock; The Beautiful Years; Teach Yourself to Think; Salar the Salmon; The Cathedral; The Mysterious Mr I; The Picts and the Martyrs; The Dream of Fair Women; The Star-born; Three Short Stories; A Thatched Roof; The Surgeon's Log; The Healing Knife; Nine Ghosts; While Rome Burns; The Star Spangled Manner; The Day Must Dawn; The Tower of London; Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; The Old Man's Birthday; A little Princess; Ego 5; The Lighter Side of School Life; Kidnapped; The Trail of the Sandhill Stag; Ballet Lover's Notebook; Lorna Doone; The Plays of JM Barrie; Jane Eyre; I'll Leave it to You; Henry Fifth; Longer Poems; Antony and Cleopatra; The Man in Grey; The House in Dormer Forest; The Writing of English; Miss Mapp; The Song of Bernadette; Happy and Glorious; Sixty Poems; The Birth of Romance; The Comedy of Life; Some Little Tales; Dream Days; Royal Flush.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Hilary Spalding Print: Book
[List of books read during 1944]:
'The Specialist; All This and Heaven Too; Antony; Uncle Tom's Cabin; Roper's Row; Tom Brown's Schooldays; Life's a Circus; The Keys of the Kingdom; Two Survived; Hamlet; King's Nurse, Beggar's Nurse; The Snow Goose; Gerald; Early Stages; Cross Creek; Footnotes to the Ballet; The Great Ship; Hungry Hill; Hiawatha; Captain Blood; Scaramouche; Heartbreak House; Fortune's Fool; Fifth Form at St Dominic's; Cold Comfort Farm; The Lost King; The count of Monte Cristo; Diary of a Provincial Lady; Frenchman's Creek; Song of Bernadette; Romeo and Juliet; Rebecca; The Surgeon's Destiny; The Killer and the Slain; Anna; King Solomon's Mines; The Black Moth; Have His Carcase; Peacock Pie; Alice in Wonderland; The Citadel; Good Companions; Our Hearts were Young and Gay; Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man; The Healing Knife; First Year Out; Saint Joan; Stars Look Down; Bridge of San Luis Rey; Rogue Herries; Caesar and Cleopatra; Xmas at Cold Comfort Farm; Dark Lady of the Sonnets; The Velvet Deer; Leaves from a Surgeon's Case Book; A Christmas Carol; Craft of Comedy; As You Like It; Lottie Dundass; Plays of John Galsworthy; Provincial Lady in America; She Shanties; Peter Abelard; Actor, Soldier, Poet; The Best of Lamb; Some Essay of Elia; Poems, Plays etc; The White Cliffs; Three Men in a Boat; Confessions of an Opium Eater; In Search of England; Wuthering Heights; Pericles, Prince of Tyre; Poems of Contemporary Women; Crime at the Club; Quality Street; Villette; Major Barbara; Pygmalion; You Never Can Tell; King John; Doctor's Dilemma'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Hilary Spalding Print: Book
"I am now myself in cap III of 'Sentimental Tommy'. So far, it strikes me, as it struck me before in 'Scribner', as a little too merely facetious, Seems as if the beggar didn?t know when he was being humorous & when merely funny ? la Jerome. Having instinctive doubts of the book, I shouldn?t have started it only for Miss Symonds? urgent recommendation."
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'Barrie?s 'Margaret Ogilvy', though a trifle loose in the mere writing, is a divine thing, my boy?sort of book that immediately you have finished it you begin again, No fear of his reputation deliquescing just yet, with that to solidify it.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'[Tuesday] May 12-24th [...] Early in the morning I read Madame Roland
[...]
'Wednesday May 13th.-25th [...] Finish the Memoirs of Madame Roland.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Claire Clairmont Print: Book
'The reading of the "White Bird", apart from the sheer pleasure your work always gives, had a special interest for me as demonstrating once more your wonderful power to deal with fanciful and delicate conceptions; something much too perfect to be called skill.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad Print: Book
'In respect of contemporary novels he [Tennyson] had a very catholic taste. Latterly he read Stevenson and George Meredith with great interest: also Walter Besant, Black, Hardy, Henry James, Marion Crawford, Anstey, Barrie, Blackmore, Conan Doyle, Miss Braddon, Miss Lawless, Ouida, Miss Broughton, Lady Margaret Majendie, Hall Caine, and Shorthouse. He liked Edna Lyall's Autobiography of a Slander, and the Geier-Wally by Wilhelmina von Hillern; and often gave his friends Surly Tim to read, for its "concentrated pathos." "Mrs Oliphant's prolific work," he would observe, "is amazing, and she is nearly always worth reading."'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred Tennyson Print: Unknown
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mrs Kaye Print: Book
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Miss Marriage Print: Book
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Rowntree Print: Book
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: P Kaye Print: Book
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Florence Reynolds Print: Book
'The programme on the works of J.M. Barrie was then considered, John Ridges reading a paper on the subject & Mrs Kaye Miss Marriage & WS Rowntree & P Kaye giving part readings from Window in Thrums & Mrs Reynolds selections from Peter Pan'.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: John Ridges Print: Book
'A reading in parts of Barrie's "Admirable Crichton" was then given with considerable spirit & was much appreciated. The characters were read as follows [a list of 14 members and characters follows]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Members of XII Book Club Print: Book
'Letters & Letter writing were then proceeded with.
Mrs Burrow read three letters of William Cowper characteristically interesting & amusing.
Mrs C. Elliott read in French two amusing letters one by Madame de Sevigny & one by Victor Hugo.
C. I. Evans read two [?] Ladies Battle & K.S. Evans two by R.L. Stevenson
F.E. Pollard read letters by G.B. Shaw & J.M. Barrie to Mrs Patrick Campbell on the death of her son killed in action.
Geo Burrow read several characteristic epistles of Charles Lamb & Howard R. Smith part of a letter by Lord Chesterfield to his son.
The Club were also much interested by seeing a number of Autograph letters from famous folk shown by various members of the Club.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis Pollard Print: Unknown
Meeting held at Hillsborough :- 14. 9. 37.
Reginald H. Robson in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved
2. Charles Stansfield then introduced the momentous question of the evening. Was the Book
Club to end its existence? He had felt for some time that it was moribund. [...]
He referred to E. B. Castle who shared his concern and to a letter which he believed had been
written to the Secretary by E. B. Castle.
3. The Secretary then read this; it supported the opinions expressed by C. E. Stansfield.
4. The subject was then discussed informally.
[...]
9. We then turned to the work of Barrie. Howard Smith gave us a chat – he would not call it a
paper – on the plays he had seen.
[...]
A considerable part of “What every woman knows” was then read in which a number of people
took part.
Charles Stansfield appropriately gave a reading from My Lady Nicotine.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Members of the XII Book Club Print: Book
Meeting held at Hillsborough :- 14. 9. 37.
Reginald H. Robson in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved
2. Charles Stansfield then introduced the momentous question of the evening. Was the Book
Club to end its existence? He had felt for some time that it was moribund. [...]
He referred to E. B. Castle who shared his concern and to a letter which he believed had been
written to the Secretary by E. B. Castle.
3. The Secretary then read this; it supported the opinions expressed by C. E. Stansfield.
4. The subject was then discussed informally.
[...]
9. We then turned to the work of Barrie. Howard Smith gave us a chat – he would not call it a
paper – on the plays he had seen.
[...]
A considerable part of “What every woman knows” was then read in which a number of people
took part.
Charles Stansfield appropriately gave a reading from My Lady Nicotine.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles E. Stansfield Print: Book
1. Apologies for absence were received from Margaret and A. Bruce Dilks, Alice
and Arnold Joselin, Sylvanus A. Reynolds, Kenneth F. Nicholson, Francis H. Knight.
[...]
3. The subject chosen was letters, and during the evening we heard a most
interesting variety of letters, the matter varying from good & energetic advice to a
brother-in-law by Abraham Lincoln, to the butcher of our dreams; from Zola’s
account of the Dreyfus case to the amazing all-round ability to destroy of Leonardo
da Vinci. Charming letters to children were read, and various letters to the public;
and yet through all this variety, links were found connecting one set of letters with
the next.
In the first section of the meeting the following were read:- Letters by
Leonardo da Vinci read by K. Waschauer, by Abraham Lincoln read by F. E.
Pollard, and a humorous selection read by Edith B. and Howard R. Smith.
4. We adjourned for refreshments.
5. The minutes of the last meeting were then read and signed.
[...]
7. The business being completed, we had a further selection of letters
Zola’s letters on the Dreyus case [read by] Howard R. Smith[.]
Letters written to children [read by] Muriel Stevens[.]
Captain Scott’s last letters [read by] Elsie D. Harrod[.]
J. M. Barrie’s letter to Mrs. Scott [read by] Rosamund Wallis[.]
Letters of Gertrude Bell [read by] Mary Stansfield[.]
8. The meeting ended with general thankfulness that we had not to spend the
coming night as Gertrude Bell had done on the mountains.'
Century: Reader/Listener/Group: Rosamund Wallis Print: Book
'Meeting held at 67 Eastern Avenue, 28th. Nov. 1945.
A. Austin Miller in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
[...]
3. While we were discussing possible books for the coming year, the Treasurer
was dispatched to fetch from his home the Club account books in order that we
might be able to review our finances. He was later able to assure us that we have
a balance in hand of about £7.
[...]
7. X = 0 by John Drinkwater was read with the following cast: —
Pronax — F. E. Pollard
Salvius — A B Dilks
Ilus — T. Hopkins
Capys — Austin Miller
Stage directions, passing sentinels & noises off — Hilda Hopkins
We then had three readings each of a national character. For the first of these
representing England Dora Langford read from “Nicholas Married” a sequel to
Nicholas Nickleby of doubtful authorship. Both the age of the book and its
illustrations were extremely interesting. Scotland was represented by an extract
from ‘A Window in Thrums’ by J. M. Barrie read by Muriel Stevens. And Wales by
readings by Stella Hopkins from “An Englishman looks at Wales by R. W.
Thompson”
[signed as a true record by] C.J. Langford [on 10 January 1946, at the club meeting
held at 44 Hamilton Rd.: see Minute Book, p. 48.]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Print: Book
'I have just finished Barrie's delicious book — to my great sorrow. It is a charming little work — the only pity of it is that she could not read it! '
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
4. It was a very great pleasure to us that Janet Rawlings’ short stay in Reading
should coincide with a book-club meeting, & her reading from “My Lady Nicotine”
was much enjoyed. It should be mentioned that the passage was not selected by
the reader, but by Mr. Pollard. For in an entertaining forward Janet explained that
being in doubt as to what to read she took her troubles to F. E. Pollard, as she so
often does – with what happy result in this case at least we were able to judge for
ourselves.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Janet Rawlings Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
5. Alice Joselin made some comments on “Peter Pan” which were followed by a
reading by Mary Stansfield from “The Little White Bird”., an early book which
contains the episode of Peter Pan. In view of the very evident enjoyment with
which we devoted the whole of our last meeting to childrens literature, it was
strange that so many condemned Peter Pan as too grown up for children and too
mawkish for adults. In fact, as she finished the reading, Mary Stansfield
pronounced it “Utter Twaddle”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary S. Stansfield Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Isabel Taylor Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Florence E. Reynolds Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Sylvanus A. Reynolds Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Bruce Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Joselin Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard Smith Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After an interval for refreshment we came to “The Admirable Crichton” probably
Barries best play. Knox Taylor briefly outlined the story and then the last Act was
read with the following cast:
Agatha – Isabel Taylor
Ernest – F. E. Pollard
Catherine – Mary Reynolds
Lord Loam – S. A. Reynolds
Crichton – A. B. Dilks
Lady Mary – Margaret Dilks
Lord Brocklehurst – Arnold Joselin
Lady Brocklehurst – Muriel Stevens
Treherne – H. R. Smith
Tweeny – Violet Clough
Howard Smith recalled that this was the third time the Book Club had selected to
read from this play and on each occasion he had been cast as the cricketing
parson. F. E. Pollard hoped that it would not be his lot to play the Hon. Ernest
Wooley again, but it was generally felt that he had been excellently cast in view of
the stage direction “he is a match for any old lady”.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Violet Clough Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Dorothea Taylor Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Knox Taylor Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Joselin Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Bruce Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Alice Joselin Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
7. Dr. [Dorothea] Taylor read from “Sentimental Tommy” – a pathetic story, but
salted with humour, the pathos becomes palatable.
8. Knox Taylor read from Barrie’s famous rectorial address delivered at St.
Andrews University in May 1922 on the subject of “Courage”.
9. Muriel Stevens read from “The Little Minister” Barrie’s first long novel which
was published in 1891. This book introduced, not without unmixed success,
extraneous elements into the familiar life of Thrums, including the winsome
heroine Babbie, but proved the author’s considerable gift of romance.
10. The first Act of “A Kiss for Cinderella” was read by: Arnold Joselin as the
Policeman
Bruce Dilks as Mr. Bodie
Alice Joselin as Cindarella
with Margaret Dilks reading the introduction & stage directions. In this play we
realize how near is the authors genius to that of Hans Anderson on the one hand,
and of Dickens on the other. Like Hans Anderson he mixes the everyday world
with Fairyland, & like Dickens he entices us to that borderland of laughter where
we suddenly find ourselves in tears. But Barrie is at once jester and tender-
hearted moralist and there is a special kind of broken-hearted fun which is quite
his own.
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
4. It was a very great pleasure to us that Janet Rawlings’ short stay in Reading
should coincide with a book-club meeting, & her reading from “My Lady Nicotine”
was much enjoyed. It should be mentioned that the passage was not selected by
the reader, but by Mr. Pollard. For in an entertaining forward Janet explained that
being in doubt as to what to read she took her troubles to F. E. Pollard, as she so
often does – with what happy result in this case at least we were able to judge for
ourselves.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 7.iv.41
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
[Signed as a true record by] A. G. Joselin
5 May 1941'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue: 17. IV 40.
F. E. Pollard in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
5. As an introduction to our subject of Modern English Humourists, R. H. Robson
read a passage analysing the nature of Humour. Discussion followed on the
distinction, if any, between wit & humour, & various alleged examples were
forthcoming.
6. A. B. Dilks read from Grossmith’s Diary of a Nobody; many entries appealed to
members as characteristic of themselves or their friends.
7. In the regretted absence of C. E. Stansfield, F. E. Pollard read T. Thompson’s
Blitzkrieg, from the Manchester Guardian, in what purported to be the Lancashire
dialect.
8 Howard R. Smith read from A. A. Milne: the reader shared fully in the mirth of
the hearers.
9. M. Dilks gave us a passage from Macdonnell’s ‘England, their England’, which
must have been salutary for any suffering from insular complacency.
10. Rosamund Wallis’ contribution was from P. G. Wodehouse’s ‘Carry on, Jeeves’;
certain methods of being off with the old love & on with the new were
characteristically indicated by the writer, effectively rendered by the reader, &
clearly appreciated by the company.
11. R. H. Robson’s Saki story supplied further satire on English standards – in this
case of music, & the services likely to secure a title.
12. The chapter from Barrie’s ‘Window in Thrums’, read by F. E. Pollard, told how
Gavin Birse did his best to be off with the old love, but failed.
13. The idea of a Barrie evening was mooted.
[signed as a true record:] M. Stevens
18-7-40'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Among the writers who deserve attention the first is Rudyard Kipling (his last book ,”The Day’s
Work”, a novel). J.M. Barrie—a Scotsman. His last book “Sentimental Tommy” (last year).[...]
George Moore has published the novel “Evelyn Innes”—un succès d’estime. He is supposed to
belong to the naturalistic school and Zola is his prophet. Tout ça, c’est très vieux jeu. A certain
Mr. T Watts-Dunton published the novel “Aylwin” a curiosity success, as this Watts-Dunton( who
is also a barrister) is apparently a friend of different celebrities in the world of Fine Arts
(especially in the pre-Raphaelite School). He has crammed them all into his book. H.G. Wells
published this year “The War of the Worlds” and “The Invisible Man”. He is a very original writer,
romancier du fantastique, with a very individualist judgement in all things and an astonishing
imagination.’
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad Print: Book
Fortunately books are fairly plentiful and I keep
my own books (“Dombey & Son” and “Three
Musketeers”) for the time when I am in a place
which nobody has left any books. I have just got
through J.M. Barrie’s “Sentimental Tommie”, and I
am now dipping into “Sketches by Boz”. So the
literature is up to a fairly high standard.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arthur Morris Print: Book
'Sep.Sep at Harborne'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Sarah Good Print: Book
