'I have read some very delightful old books lately (for I now have just attained the wisdom to wish to make use of this ample library, and reject all borrowed or hired books) -Amongst others, two collections of letters, Sevigne's to her daughter, and Bussy Rabutin's to her and various others.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sarah Harriet Burney Print: Book
'I have finished all dear old Sevigne's Letters...'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sarah Harriet Burney Print: Book
'I spent the whole afternoon reading some of Mde. de Sevigne's letters'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Wynne Print: Book
'I read Mde. de Sevigne until I was quite tired'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Wynne Print: Book
'I have now read three volumes of Madame de Sevigne - with a conviction that her letters are very much overpraised. Mr Thomas Grenville says he has made seven vigorous attacks on Madame de Sevigne and been as often repulsed'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
'I read little else than Madame de Sevignes letters - Shelley reads St Luke aloud to us - & to himself the New Testament'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Shelley Print: Book
'of all the generations who have praised Madame de Sevigne, and commended her writings, I am certain no one has ever entered more completely into the sentiment of her delightful letters than myself. It is melancholy that no similar instance of so perfect a love between parent and child has since been upon record'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bury Print: Book
'Affectation is never more tiresome and ridiculous than in a letter. Madame de Sevigne was the best letter-writer that ever existed. I would rank Swift and Lord Chesterfield next. Voltaire to me is charming; but then I suspect he studied his epistles, as Lord Orford certainly did, and so had little merit. Heloise wrote beautifully in the old time; but we are very poor, both in England and Scotland, as to such matters'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Sharpe Print: Book
'(I think what gave me the start [ on wanting to write a life of Mme de Sevigne] was the meeting with a supposed-to-be well-educated young lady who knew nothing about Madame de Sevigne, who had been like a well-known friend to me all my life.)'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell Print: Book
'The former [apparently a letter from Louisa Clinton, praising LS -or someone else? - extravagantly] discomposed me, trenching upon all the old forbidden ground. Even Madame de Sevigne's reiterated encomiums on her daughter and extreme professions of fondness, have in some degree this effect. And you may depend upon it, dear Lou, that exaggerated praise of any person, nay, of anything, is sure to leave on the mind of every hearer an impression rather unfavourable to that person or thing'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Louisa, Lady Stuart Print: Book
'My second Daughter Susan has a surprising Turn for Letter-writing; her Compositions are really elegant, & She delights - odd enough - in reading Voiture and Sevigne.'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Susanna Arabella Thrale 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: C. Elliott Print: Unknown