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

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Dorothy Osborne : The Letters of Dorothy Osborne to William Temple

Leonard Woolf to Virginia Woolf, 25 September 1928: 'It began to rain [...] yesterday afternoon [...] Quentin [Bell, nephew] came and painted the gramophone and after tea I took him for a walk [...] Then I read Dorothy Osborne until bedtime.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Leonard Woolf      Print: Book

Dorothy Osborne : Letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple

(1) 'I am at present reading a book which you would enjoy, "The letters of Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple.... They lived in Cromwell's time, and the letters are very quaint. In the notes the editor also quotes an account of the "remove these baubles" scene by an eye- witness, who was apparently a member of the old aristocracy and tells us indignantly how the Lord Protector came into the House in "grey worsted stockings." They had their own way of writing love letters in those days: Mistress Osborne begins hers "Sir" like a letter to a newspaper....' (2) 'I have been reading the quaintest book this week, "The Letters of Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple in Everyman.... It is very interesting to read the ordinary everyday life of a girl in those days, and, tho' of course they are often dull there is a lot in them you would like.' (3) '... mine is only the 1/- Everyman and rather shop-soiled at that! (4) 'Have you looked at "Dorothy Osborne" yet and do you think you will like her? I am desperately in love with her and have accordingly made arrangements to commit suicide from 10 till 4 to-morrow precisely.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Clive Staples Lewis      Print: Book

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