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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Listings for Author:  

Martineau

  

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Harriet and H. G. Martineau and Atkinson : Letters on the Laws of Man's Nature and Development

Charlotte Bronte to James Taylor, 1 February 1851: 'Have you yet read Miss Martineau's and Mr Atkinson's new work "Letters on the Nature and Development of Man?" ... It is the first exposition of avowed Atheism and Materialism I have ever read ...'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bronte      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Autobiography

Deborah Epstein Nord, The Apprenticeship of Beatrice Webb (1985) noted as "especially interesting ... in its discussion of Webb's ... reading of autobiographies (such as John Stuart Mill's Autobiography, Harriet Martineau's Autobiography, George Sand's Histoire de ma vie, and Wordsworth's Prelude ..."

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Beatrice Webb      Print: Book

  

James Martineau : Types of Ethical Theory

'I am reading Martineau ["Types of Ethical Theory"] and like it, indeed I think I shall leave of writing this and go on.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Sir Walter Raleigh      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Settlers at Home

'Lovely books she read to us...:"The Wide Wide World", with all the religion and deaths from consumption left out, and all the farm life and good country food left in; "Masterman Ready", with that ass Mr Seagrave mitigated, and dear old Ready not killed by the savages; "Settlers at Home", with the baby not allowed to die; "The Little Duke" with horrid little Carloman spared to grow more virtuous still; "The Children of the New Forest"; "The Runaway"; "The Princess and the Goblin", and many more'.

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Henrietta Litchfield      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : [article on Missions in the Westminster Review]

'I have continued reading Milne-Edwards aloud, and have also read Harriet Martineau's article on Missions in the "Westminster", and one or two articles in the "National". Reading to myself Harvey's "Sea-side Book", and "The Lover's Seat".'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: George Eliot (pseud)      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : History of the Peace: Being a History of England from 1816 to 1854

'Began the Ajax of Sophocles. Also Miss Martineau's History of the Peace'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: George Eliot [pseud]      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : The history of the British Empire in India

'In the evenings of late, we have been reading Harriet Martineau's sketch of "The British Empire in India", and are now following it up with Macaulay's articles of Clive and Hastings. We have lately read H.M.'s Introduction to the "History of the Peace" and have begun the "History of the Thirty Years Peace".'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group:      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : The history of England during the thirty years' peace : 1816-1846

'In the evenings of late, we have been reading Harriet Martineau's sketch of "The British Empire in India", and are now following it up with Macaulay's articles of Clive and Hastings. We have lately read H.M.'s Introduction to the "History of the Peace" and have begun the "History of the Thirty Years Peace".'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group:      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : History of the Thirty Years Peace

'Gave up Miss Martineau's "History" last night after reading some hundred pages in the second volume. She has a sentimental, rhetorical style in this history which is fatiguing and not instructive. But her history of the Reform Movement is very interesting'.

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: George Eliot (pseud)      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : [works]

'From that time [summer 1840] to the present [1845] I have not read much. I have, however, looked through Lord Byron's works, the "Memoirs of Mr William Hutton", and Dr Stilling's Autobiography; with some of the works of Sir Walter Scott, Dr Southey, and Miss Martineau.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook

'I was reading to-day and I have since finished Miss Martineau's "Deerbrook", a capital novel though it is too full of preaching. It is inferior in execution to Miss Austen's novels in the development of common characters, but is suprior in the higher parts.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Miss Martineau on Mesmerism

'Ps. Have you read Miss Martineau on Mesmerism in the Athenaeum (two of them). I have got them and if you like I will send them to you. They are very wonderful [underlined]'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Alfred Tennyson      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : Five Years of Youth: or, Sense and Sentiment

'[Annabella] had been reading Harriet Martineau's "Five Years of Youth", and wrote to a friend: "it is very good - chiefly directed against Romance, and therefore not necessary for Ada".'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Anne Isabella (Annabella), Baroness Byron      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : article on "Female Writers on Practical Divinity"

Harriet Martineau hears her first (pseudonymously) published work read by her unsuspecting eldest brother: 'After tea he said "[...] I will read you something"; and he held out his hand for the new "[Monthly] Repository." After glancing at it, he exclaimed, "They have got a new hand here. Listen." After a paragraph, he repeated, "Ah! this is a new hand; they have had nothing so good as this for a long while." [...] I was silent, of course.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Martineau      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : Devotional Exercises

Harriet Martineau on her early writings: 'I immediately after [the publication of her first periodical essay] began to write my first work, -- "Devotional Exercises," [...] I remember my brother's anxious doubting looks, as he read the M.S.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Martineau      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : My Servant Rachel

Harriet Martineau on one of her early publications: 'A most excellent young servant of ours [...] went out to Madeira with my brother and his family [...] Her history was a rather remarkable, and a very interesting one; and I wrote it in the form of four of Houlston's penny tracts. He threw together, and made a little book of them; and the heroine, who would never have heard of them as tracts, was speedily put in possession of her Memoirs in the form of the little book called "My Servant Rachel." An aunt of mine, calling on her one day, found her standing in the middle of the floor, and her husband reading the book over her shoulder.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Martineau family servant, and husband     Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : "Weal and Woe in Garveloch"

Harriet Martineau on her concerns about the acceptability of some of her writings: 'While writing "Weal and Woe in Garveloch," the perspiration many a time streamed down my face, though I knew there was not a line in it which might not be read aloud in any family. The misery arose from my seeing how the simplest statements and reasonings might and probably would be perverted [...] when the number was finished, I read it aloud to my mother and aunt [...] they were as complacent and easy as they had been interested and attentive.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : volume containing "Garveloch" stories

Harriet Martineau, on a response to her series of "Tales", denounced as 'improper' in the Quarterly Review, by a woman lent the 'Garveloch' stories by one of Martineau's friends: 'A few days after, [she] brought back the book, saying [...] it was so harmless that her husband had read it aloud to the young people in the evening [having been offered another] [...] The lady and her husband read the whole series through in this way, and never could find out the "improper book."'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Series of Tales

Harriet Martineau, on a response to her series of "Tales", denounced as 'improper' in the Quarterly Review, by a woman lent the 'Garveloch' stories by one of Martineau's friends: 'A few days after, [she] brought back the book, saying [...] it was so harmless that her husband had read it aloud to the young people in the evening [having been offered another] [...] The lady and her husband read the whole series through in this way, and never could find out the "improper book."'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: anon woman and husband     Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Stories including "Cousin Marshall"

'[Elizabeth Fry] told me [Harriet Martineau] that her brother, J. J. Gurney, and other members of her family had become convinced by reading "Cousin Marshall" and others of my tales that they had been for a long course of years doing mischief where they meant to do good; that they were now convinced that the true way of benefiting the poor was to reform the Poor-law system'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: J. J. Gurney      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Stories including "Cousin Marshall"

'[Elizabeth Fry] told me [Harriet Martineau] that her brother, J. J. Gurney, and other members of her family had become convinced by reading "Cousin Marshall" and others of my tales that they had been for a long course of years doing mischief where they meant to do good; that they were now convinced that the true way of benefiting the poor was to reform the Poor-law system'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Family of Elizabeth Fry     Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Stories including "Cousin Marshall"

'Since reading "Cousin Marshall" and others of my Numbers, [Lord Henley] had dropped his subscriptions to some hurtful charities, and had devoted his funds to Education, Benefit Societies and Emigration.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Lord Henley      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Tales

'[S. T. Coleridge] told me [Harriet Martineau] that he (the last person whom I should have suspected) read my tales as they came out on the first of the month'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Taylor Coleridge      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : work on Toussaint L'Ouverture

Harriet Martineau, on plans for, and execution of, her work on Toussaint L'Ouverture: 'I went to my confidante, with a sheetful of notes, and a heartful of longings to draw that glorious character [...] But my friend could not see the subject as I did [...] I gave it up; but a few years after, when ill at Tynemouth, I reverted to my scheme and fulfilled it; and my kind adviser, while never liking the subject in an artistic sense, graciously told me that the book had kept her up, over her dressing-room fire, till three in the morning.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Stories including "Ella of Garveloch"

'At a concert at the Hanover Square Rooms, some time before [Queen Victoria's accession] (I forget what year it was) the Duchess of Kent sent Sir John Conroy to me [Harriet Martineau] with a message of acknowledgement of the usefulness of my books to the Princess [Victoria]: and I afterwards heard more particulars of the eagerness with which the little lady read the stories on the first day of the month [...] Her "favourite" of my stories is "Ella of Garveloch."'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Princess Victoria      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : Retrospect of Western Travel

'[A friend] one day desired to be allowed to see and criticise the first chapter of my [Harriet Martineau's] "Retrospect of Western Travel." I gave him the MS. at night; and in the morning he produced it, covered with pencil marks.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Manuscript: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : articles on Household Education

Harriet Martineau to 'Mr Atkinson', 21 November 1847: 'I saw a sort of scared smile on Mrs. ----'s face the other day, when in talking about education, I said we had yet to see what could be done by a direct appeal to human nature. She, liberal as she is, thinks we have such active bad tendencies [...] that we can do nothing without [...] Help. Yet she, and Mrs. ---- too, devours my Household education papers, as if she had never met with anything true before on that subject.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook

Charlotte Bronte (writing as Currer Bell) to Harriet Martineau, 7 November 1849: 'When C.B. first read "Deerbrook" he tasted a new and keen pleasure [...] "Deerbrook" ranks with the writings that have really done him good, added to his stock of ideas, and rectified his views of life.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bronte      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Household Education

'"Currer Bell" [Charlotte Bronte] told me [Harriet Martineau] that she had read with astonishment those parts of "Household Education" which relate my own experience. It was like meeting her own [?]fetch'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bronte      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Letter to Assistant poor-law Commissioner

'I [Harriet Martineau] wrote a letter [...] to an Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, who was earnest in his endeavours to get workhouses supplied with milk and vegetables, by the labour of the inmates on the land. To my amazement, I found my letter in the "Times," one day while I was at Bolton.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      Print: Newspaper

  

Harriet Martineau : Letter

Harriet Martineau on the death of a Town Missionary acquaintance of hers: 'A friend of his at Birmingham wrote to me that he declared himself dying [of consumption] [...] she immediately wrote to suggest to me that a letter from me would gratify him. There was scarcely anything I would rather have done [Martineau having abandoned her Christian faith]: but it was impossible to refuse. I wrote at once [...] There was not a word about the future, or God, or even Christ. It was a letter of sympathy in his benevolent and happy life, and also, of course, in his present weakness. It reached him on the last day of his life. It was read to him. When he a little revived, he asked for it, and read it himself; and then desired his wife to tell all who loved him of "ths last flush on his darkness."'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Manuscript: Letter

  

Harriet Martineau : Letter

Harriet Martineau on the death of a Town Missionary acquaintance of hers: 'A friend of his at Birmingham wrote to me that he declared himself dying [of consumption] [...] she immediately wrote to suggest to me that a letter from me would gratify him. There was scarcely anything I would rather have done [Martineau having abandoned her Christian faith]: but it was impossible to refuse. I wrote at once [...] There was not a word about the future, or God, or even Christ. It was a letter of sympathy in his benevolent and happy life, and also, of course, in his present weakness. It reached him on the last day of his life. It was read to him. When he a little revived, he asked for it, and read it himself; and then desired his wife to tell all who loved him of "ths last flush on his darkness."'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: anon      Manuscript: Letter

  

Harriet Martineau and H.G. Atkinson : Letters on the Laws of Man's Nature and Development

Charlotte Bronte to Harriet Martineau, on Martineau's published correspondence with Atkinson: 'Having read your book, I cannot now think it will create any outcry. You are tender of others: -- you are serious, reverent and gentle.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bronte      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Mary and her Grandmother

Maria Weston Chapman on Harriet Martineau's story 'Mary and her Grandmother': 'I found it in the [italics]mansarde[end italics] of a Paris friend, and stood reading on the spot where I took it up, without the least idea of its authorship. It seemed like a Sunday-school book, but how different from its class in general!'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Maria Weston Chapman      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : article

Lord Durham to Harriet Martineau, 1 January 1834: 'I have read your excellent paper with great pleasure'.

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Lord Durham      

  

Harriet Martineau : Retrospect

Harriet Martineau, Journal, 10 September 1837: 'Read to Mrs ---- my last chapters of my first volume of "Retrospect." She says the book will do.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : article on Sedgwick

Harriet Martineau, Journal, 24 September 1837: '[italics]Evening[end italics] Read [...] to my mother [...] my Sedgwick article, which she likes.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : Loom and Lugger

Harriet Martineau, Journal, 16 December 1837: 'Morning, read one of my own stories, -- "Loom and Lugger." Was quite disappointed in it. It has capital material, but is obscure, and not simple enough.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : unknown

Harriet Martineau, Journal, 6 February 1838: '[At Captain Beaufort's] Met [...] C. Darwin, Mr. F. Edgeworth, and Mr. Hamilton, brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, who had been reading my book up to dinner-time, and took a good gaze at me.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Hamilton      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook

Sir Arthur Helps to the publisher Macmillan, 'I have lately re-read "Deerbrook" with exceeding delight.'

Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Sir Arthur Helps      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : The Hour and the Man (vol. I)

Lord Jeffrey to 'Mr. Empson', December 1840: 'I have read Harriet [Martineau]'s first volume [of "The Hour and the Man"], and give in my adhesion to her Black Prince [Toussaint L'Ouverture] with all my heart and soul. The book is really not only beautiful and touching, but [italics]noble[end italics]; and I do not recollect when I have been more charmed, whether by very sweet and eloquent writing and glowing description, or by elevated as well as tender sentiments. I do not believe that the worthy people ever spoke or acted as she has so gracefully presented them, and must confess that in all the striking scenes I entirely forgot their complexion, and drove the notion of it from me as often as it occurred. But this does not at all diminish, but rather increases the merit of her creations.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Francis Jeffrey      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : The Hour and the Man

Florence Nightingale to Jane Martineau, 29 June 1876: 'I have thought of "The Hour and the Man" as the finest historical romance in any language. You would wonder if you knew how often I have read it over and over again, even in the last two years.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Florence Nightingale      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Life in the Sickroom

From letter of Elizabeth B. Ker, niece of Harriet Martineau: 'I regret infinitely that she desired all her letters to be destroyed. I had so large a boxful that it took some time to read and burn them [...] on reading that most charming of all her publications, "Life in the Sick-Room" [...] I said, "Oh, but I have read it all before! -- this is only my burnt letters!"'

Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth B. Ker      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Tales on the Game Laws

From Elizabeth Missing Sewell's Journal, 26 November 1846: 'I read nothing scarcely [...] Miss Martineau's [italics]Tales on the Game Laws[end italics] I began, but they are so dull to me that I have scarcely patience to finish. The thing I like about them is their fairness. The rich people are not all wretches, though Miss Martineau's sympathies are evidently with the poor.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Missing Sewell      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Life in the Sick Room

'I have just read Miss Martineau's "Sick Room". I cannot understand it. It is so sublime, and mystical that I frequently cannot guess at her meaning; all that I can find out is that in long chronical illnesses, a patient finds sources of amusement that do not at first occurr, but which have a tendency to engage the mind, and alleviate pain; all this however I could have conjectured without the assistance of an Octavo book'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : works on political economy

'Shall I confess to you that I have some dread of this wonderful lady [Harriet Martineau]...I agree with a good, simple lady of my acquaintance that "political economy is an excellent thing," but, alas! when I read Miss M's books, I slip [possibly skip?] the political economy as a friend of mine did the muscles when he studied anatomy'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Catharine Sedgwick      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Forest and Game-law Tales

'How good of you to send me these books. I am ashamed to say that I forget whether I thanked you for the last - but I [underlined] do [end underlining] thank you. I liked the 3d tale, "Maude Chapel Farm" very much.' [letter to Edward Moxon]

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Shelley      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Forest and Game-Law Tales

'I read nothing scarcely, all my spare time being given to German exercises. Miss Martineau's "Tales on the Game Laws" I began, but they are so dull to me that I have scarcely patience to finish. The thing I like about them is their fairness. The rich people are not all wretches,though Miss Martineau's sympathies are evidently with the poor'.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Missing Sewell      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Hour and the Man, The

'I have just finished Miss Martineau's new romance. Toussaint the hero is a magnificent character, - and all connected with his personal private character is very interesting, & the conversations (where we may suppose she speaks herself) are just like those in Deerbrook very interesting. The [italics] story [end italics] is too like reading a history - one knows all along how it must end, - & there's a map at the beginning [italics] like [end italics] a history.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook

'I have just finished Miss Martineau's new romance. Toussaint the hero is a magnificent character, - and all connected with his personal private character is very interesting, & the conversations (where we may suppose she speaks herself) are just like those in Deerbrook very interesting. The [italics] story [end italics] is too like reading a history - one knows all along how it must end, - & there's a map at the beginning [italics] like [end italics] a history.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : extract from letter to Edward Moxon, reporting seance

Elizabeth Barrett to Julia Martin, 11 January 1845: 'Mr Kenyon has read to me an extract from a private letter -- addressed by H. Martineau to Moxon the publisher, .. to the effect that ... Lord Morpeth was down on his knees in the middle of the room a few nights ago, in the presence of the somnambule J__ & conversing with her in Greek & Latin -- that .. the four Miss Liddels were also present, .. & that .. they five talked to her during one seance in five foreign languages, .. viz .. Latin, Greek, French, Italian & German.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: John Kenyon      Manuscript: Letter

  

Harriet Martineau : Complete Guide to the English Lakes

'To go back to books. H. Martineau's is, I think, the best guide book [to the Lakes].'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Forest and Game Law Tales

Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning, 13-14 January 1846: 'Will you have Miss Martineau's books when I can lend them to you? Just at this moment I [italics]dare not[end italics], because they are reading them here.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Moulton-Barrett family     Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : [works]

'At present sunk deep in Harriet Martineau: very much attracted in spite of her complacent priggishness and self-righteousness. A very [italics] true [end italics] nature there; honest and unflinching and courageous. One gets nourished by the oddest people...'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Antonia White      Print: Book

  

Martineau : Endeavours After a Christian Life

From Emily Tennyson's Journal, 1869: 'Sept. 13th. [...] Read the "Idylls" through in their proper sequence during these months, also Tom Hughes' Alfred the Great, Pressense's Life of Christ, Martineau's Endeavours After a Christian Life, and Lecky's European Morals.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Emily Tennyson      Print: Book

  

James Martineau : 'Is there any Axiom of Causation?'

James Martineau to Hallam Tennyson (1893), recalling meetings of the Metaphysical Society: 'I remember a special interest shown by your father in a paper contributed by the Rev. F. D. Maurice on the meaning of the words "Nature," "Natural," "Supernatural," November 21st, 1871 [...] 'The other subjects on which papers were read in your father's presence were the following: 'July 14, 1869. The commonsense philosophy of causation: Dr W. B. Carpenter. 'June 15, 1870. Is there any Axiom of Causation? Myself. (Mr Tennyson in the chair.) 'July 13. The relativity of Knowledge: Mr Fred. Harrison. 'Dec. 13. The emotion of Conviction: Mr Walter Bagehot. 'July 11, 1871. What is Death? Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. 'July 9, 1872. The supposed necessity for seeking a solution of ultimate Metaphysical Problems: Mr F. Harrison. Nov. 12. The five idols of the Theatre: Mr Shadworth H. Hodgson. Dec. 16, 1873. Utilitarianism: Professor Henry Sidgwick. Feb. 12, 1878. Double truth: Rev. M. Pattison, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford.'

Unknown
Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: James Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : Five Years of Youth

'The girl [Ada Byron] was then [1831] seventeen; her mother had been reading Harriet Martineau's Five Years of Youth, and wrote to a friend: "It is very good -- chiefly directed against Romance, and therefore not necessary for Ada."'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Anne Isabella Lady Byron      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : 'tales'

Harriet, Countess Granville to her sister, Lady Carlisle, 10 January 1844: 'Tell me more about Miss Martineau's book [Letters on Mesmerism]. I am afraid of it. The old tales, which I have been re-reading, have such an effect upon me that I can scarcely read them. She writes in a way that harrows up every feeling. It is, I think, quite a strange power, because no writer is so simple and so strong upon sorrows that come to all.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Countess Granville      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : 'tales'

Harriet, Countess Granville to her sister, Lady Carlisle, 10 January 1844: 'Tell me more about Miss Martineau's book [Letters on Mesmerism]. I am afraid of it. The old tales, which I have been re-reading, have such an effect upon me that I can scarcely read them. She writes in a way that harrows up every feeling. It is, I think, quite a strange power, because no writer is so simple and so strong upon sorrows that come to all.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Countess Granville      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : 

Harriet, Countess Granville to her sister, Lady Carlisle (February 1844): 'I should like Miss Martineau, if somebody would translate it. I have only read a chapter, which I cannot understand.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Countess Granville      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : ?Life in the Sickroom

'A most striking book, & gives abundant food for thought & admiration, one of those which to read is an epoch for the mind… I think the whole book calculated to be of great use both to invalids & still more to those who are with them, it is so searching & so ennobling; at the same time there is a good deal of pride and sterness, perhaps of self-sufficiency which seem s the besetting taint of her line of opinions, & she presents rather an appalling idea of pain.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: G. W. F. Howard, Lord Morpeth      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : 2nd and 3rd Letters on Mesmerism

'It is clear to me that mesmerism is not to be poo-pood, but diligently & reverently investigated'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: G. W. F. Howard, Lord Morpeth      Print: Unknown

  

Harriet Martineau : Eastern Life

Charlotte Bronte to James Taylor, 1 October 1849:

'The perusal of Harriet Martineau's "Eastern Life" has afforded me great pleasure; and I have found a deep and interesting subject of study in Newman's work on the "Soul." Have you read this work? It is daring — it may be mistaken — but it is pure and elevated. Froude's "Nemesis of Faith" I did not like; I thought it morbid; yet in its pages, too, are found sprinklings of truth.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Brontë      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook

Charlotte Bronte (as Currer Bell) to Harriet Martineau, in note accompanying copy of Bronte's novel Shirley:

'When C. B. first read Deerbrook he tasted a new and keen pleasure, and experienced a genuine benefit. In his mind Deerbrook ranks with the writings that have really done him good, added to his stock of ideas and rectified his views of life.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Brontë      Print: Book

  

Harriet Martineau : [Short story]

Charlotte Bronte to G. H. Lewes, 23 November 1850:

'I am glad to hear that Miss Martineau's little story in the "Leader" touched you and made you cry. I thought it a sample of real suffering; a case piteous, cureless, voiceless. It is to be feared there are many such [...] I used to think human destinies were nearly equal, but the older I grow the weaker becomes my hold on this doctrine'.

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Brontë      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau : [Short story]

Charlotte Bronte to G. H. Lewes, 23 November 1850:

'I am glad to hear that Miss Martineau's little story in the "Leader" touched you and made you cry. I thought it a sample of real suffering; a case piteous, cureless, voiceless. It is to be feared there are many such [...] I used to think human destinies were nearly equal, but the older I grow the weaker becomes my hold on this doctrine'.

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: George Henry Lewes      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Harriet Martineau and H. G. Atkinson : Letters on the Laws of Man's Social Nature

Charlotte Bronte to George Smith, 7 January 1851:

'I did enjoy my visit to Miss Martineau very much [...] I rather tremble at the anticipation of a work she is about to publish conjointly with a Mr Atkinson. She read me some passages of it which partially mesmerised me, but she is ready to meet any shock of opposition for the sake of what she believes the Truth.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau and H. G. Atkinson : Letters on the Laws of Man's Social Nature

Charlotte Bronte to George Smith, 7 January 1851:

'I did enjoy my visit to Miss Martineau very much [...] I rather tremble at the anticipation of a work she is about to publish conjointly with a Mr Atkinson. She read me some passages of it which partially mesmerised me, but she is ready to meet any shock of opposition for the sake of what she believes the Truth.'

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      

  

Harriet Martineau : [novels]

‘Talking of this, my Sara, what d’ye think / (To ask the question is but waste of Ink) / Of Harriet Martineau’s political novels? / Fine food, forsooth, for starving paupers’ hovels - / No doubt, ’twould much improve the poor’s behaviour, / And make them happy in their low conditions / To teach them all to disbelieve their Saviour / And make them infidel Arithmeticians. / Were I woman, I should blush for shame / That such a thing should bear a woman’s name. ...’

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Hartley Coleridge      Print: Book

  

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