Record Number: 12581
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
Elizabeth Missing Sewell on her reading at home in the Isle of Wight, after leaving her Bath boarding school in 1830: 'I used to study by myself, for I knew that I was woefully ignorant. Such books as Russell's "History of Modern Europe" and Robertson's "Charles the Fifth", I read, and also Watts on the "Improvement of the Mind", and I plodded through an Italian history of the Venetian Doges, lent me by an intimate and valued friend of my father, Mr. Turnbull [...] I taught myself besides to read Spanish -- for having found a Spanish "Don Quixote" lying about, which no one claimed, I took possession of it, bought a grammar and dictionary, and set to work to master the contents of the books which I knew so well by name. The elements of botany on the Linnean system was another of my attempted acquirements, but I am afraid my studies were very superficial: I knew nothing perfectly, but I read everything that came in my way. There was an excellent town library in Newport, from which I could get any good modern works; and, beside the graver literature, I had always some lighter book on hand, and especially delighted in Walter Scott's novels and poetry. Byron, too was a great favourite.'
Century:1800-1849
Date:Between 1 Jan 1830 and 31 Dec 1830
Country:Great Britain
Timen/a
Place:county: Isle of Wight
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Child (0-17)
Gender:Female
Date of Birth:19 Feb 1815
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:child
Religion:Church of England
Country of Origin:Great Britain
Country of Experience:Great Britain
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:[poetry and novels]
Genre:Fiction, Poetry
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:12581
Source:Elizabeth Missing Sewell
Editor:Eleanor L. Sewell
Title:The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:1908
Vol:n/a
Page:42-43
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell, (London, 1908), p. 42-43, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12581, accessed: 04 December 2024
Additional Comments:
None