Record Number: 19635

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The reason for my not mentioning the History of Bremhill was this. I had not read at that time more than a very few pages: I knew nothing of Wansdike, nothing of Tanhill, and could not have told in what county, scarcely in what kingdom, were Avebury and Silbury [Crabbe details his activities whilst not reading the book] I am not a reader of topgraphy, though at one time I corresponded with John Nichols. I always had an opinion that it was extremely dull and I even now suspect that yours is not the genuine sort, for I understand you very well and to say nothing of the knowledge acquired, have been amused. The account of parishes and their "fat rectors" is most assuredly correct, lamentably correct [...] Your natural history and more especially your account of Kelloway rock revived in me the desire of seeng that part of the county [but, he says, his health prevents this] I read the more learned portion of the work with all the interest I could acquire and really by the time I had finished the notes on Chap. 2nd I conceived that I understood the matter like a contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine. I mean in its pristine glory. [Crabbe then praises Bowles for inspiring feeling in his readers, which is unusual for those who write on monuments] But seriously, though I like your book the better because it engages me by subjects which I partly understand, yet I dare not affirm that a rigid antiquary would approve any portion of the work, except that which I either do not comprehend or cannot relish....'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Until: 2 May 1828

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Trowbridge

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

George Crabbe

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

24 Dec 1754

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

clergyman and poet

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

William Lisle Bowles

Title:

Parochial History of Bremhill, The

Genre:

Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

19635

Source:

Print

Author:

George Crabbe

Editor:

Thomas Faulkner

Title:

Selected Letters and Journals of George Crabbe

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1985

Vol:

n/a

Page:

340-2

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

George Crabbe, Thomas Faulkner (ed.), Selected Letters and Journals of George Crabbe, (Oxford, 1985), p. 340-2, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=19635, accessed: 14 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Assistant editor, Rhonda Blair. Letter to William Lisle Bowles