"H. M. Swanwick, in the late 1870s, absorbed what she could from any available scientific books and medical journals, and puzzled over the Bible, Shakespeare, Chaucer, La Fontaine."
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: H. M. Swanwick Print: Book
'The individual...was a fellow-worker of mine for nigh two years in Dartmoor. He had, in his younger days, passed through the workhouse; read the pestilent literature of rascaldom which has educated so many criminal characters in this country; then graduated in the "School", and ultimately became a noted burglar. His reading in prison had been pretty extensive, while his intelligence would have insured him a position in society above that of a labouring man... I could not help looking upon it as a very novel experience, for even this grotesque world, to have to listen to a man who could delight in a literary discussion, quote all the choice parts of Pope's "Illiad", and boast of having read Pascal and Lafontaine in the original, maintain, in sober argument, that "thieving was an honourable pursuit", and that religion, law, patriotism and bodily disease were the real and only enemies of humanity.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: anon Print: Book
'I have read since last October a good deal of the history relating to the East...: not much of books not connected with India [but included] ... In poetry, ... a great deal of Fontaine ...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mountstuart Elphinstone Print: Book
Meeting held at 70, Northcourt Avenue 30. X. 34.
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
2. There followed a fairly general escape of steam over the question of sending on books. Despite
the fact that every book carries on its brown paper cover the date on which each member of the
Club is in turn entitled to receive it [...], there had been once again considerable confusion.
[...]
To the satisfaction of all it was then resolved that if only the Secretary would write out twelve
nice little lists of all the books in the order of their rotation and paste them on the backs of the
brown paper covers all would in future go well. [...]
Amid the general enthusiasm for secretarial efficiency, one member came near to being
immortalized in these minutes by suggesting that it would be found helpful if the Secretary would
type and distribute reviews of books advertised in the Autumn lists of the various publishing
firms. This suggestion, though intended doubtless as a touching tribute to an obscure official, was
negatived by the intervention of a former Secretary.
The present holder of the office was then left alone, & allowed to go home and read and reflect
upon La Fontaine’s fable — “Les animaux malades de la peste”'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Print: Book
