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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 

 
 
 

Record Number: 24395


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 11-18 May 1794: 'Your Anacreon & �schylus please me much � unluckily I have neither the one nor the other in the original � & let me add do not want them with such spirited translations. I will however read them as you desire. in your lines �Harder than the pointed spear� the word harder strike me as inappropriate. does the Greek signify the same? something like resistless as the pointed spear, would be more consonant to the intended meaning � your ode Quique pii vates is with me but would be unfair to fill up my letter with transcribing your verses.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 18 May 1794

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Oxford

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


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Robert Southey

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

12 Aug 1774

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Grosvenor Charles Bedford

Title:

translations and verses

Genre:

Classics, Poetry

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Sheet

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (other)
sent by author


Source Information:

Record ID:

24395

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 89. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 24 April 2009.

Additional Information:

n/a

Citation:

"The Collected Letters of Robert Southey," Romantic Circles Electronic Edition, Letter 89. http://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/southey_letters. Accessed 24 April 2009. , http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24395, accessed: 05 February 2026


Additional Comments:

None