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

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Hartley Withers : War and Lombard Street

'As Conrad read for an hour or to before turning in, our one lamp, of the cheap paraffin variety, was hung on a nail close to his bunk, and was generally kept alight all night in case of a sudden call.[...]. On occasions I turned in leaving him fast asleep, only to wake up an hour later to find him reading Hartley Withers "War and Lombard Street" the only book he read during the whole cruise. This particular publication was to him one of absorbing interest, and he devoted all his reading time to the study of it. We were not supplied with a library on board, but individual members of the crew had brought with them novels and magazines of the light and non-technical type. These however did not appeal to Conrad and he never read them.' [Later in the memoir the author describes Conrad discoursing on money markets and insurance, based on his reading of this book.]

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Conrad      Print: Book

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