Record Number: 18288
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'Her Royal Highness once read through the whole of 'Candide' to one of her ladies, who told me her opinion of it, which does her honour. She said, - "its character as a work of extreme cleverness has been so long established that to venture in the least to detract from it, is to encounter the ridicule of a multitude. I must say, however, that the persiflage which reigns throughout, and in which its whole essence consists, is not consonant to my taste or understanding. Vicious subjects ought not to be treated lightly; they merit the coarsest clothing, and ought to be arrayed in language which would create abhorrence and disgust. But the whole works [sic] seems designed to turn vice into virtue. Either it has no aim or end, or it has one which should be loathed. It must be confessed, however, that the tripping levity of its self-assurance, and the sarcastic drollery of its phrase, excite laughter; but it is a poor prerogative after all, to be the mental buffoon of ages". Though I, perhaps, have more indulgence for Voltaire, in consideration of his vast talents, than my friend, yet I admired the [italics] woman [end italics] who thought and spoke thus; and her Royal Highness is fortunate in having such a friend'.
Century:1800-1849
Date:Between 10 Feb 1811 and 11 Oct 1811
Country:England
Timen/a
Place:n/a
Type of Experience(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Listener:a lady in waiting to Princess Caroline
Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Female
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Gentry
Occupation:lady in waiting
Religion:n/a
Country of Origin:n/a
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:Candide
Genre:Fiction
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:18288
Source:Lady Charlotte Bury
Editor:A. Francis Steuart
Title:Diary of a Lady-in-Waiting, The
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:1908
Vol:I
Page:42
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Lady Charlotte Bury, A. Francis Steuart (ed.), Diary of a Lady-in-Waiting, The, (London, 1908), I, p. 42, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=18288, accessed: 06 November 2024
Additional Comments:
reader was Princess Caroline