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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 27410


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Sir Francis B. Head to John Murray, 2 July 1835: 'I have not had time to finish Fanny Kemble's book, but have seen enough of it to feel that she has been most unkindly and unjustly treated by the reviewers [...] I know of no subject I would more willingly undertake than her vindication. People say she is vulgar! So was Eve, for she scratched whatever part of her itched, and did a hundred things we should call vulgar. But the fact is, everything is vulgar now-a-days [...] Poor Fanny Kemble has fallen a victim to this tyranny. Her book is full of cleverness, talent, simple-heartedness, nature and nakedness. Her style is a little rough spot, but did you ever know a woman who was without one? I have no patience with the way she has been treated.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 May 1835 and 2 Jul 1835

Country:

n/a

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Sir Francis B. Head

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Colonial civil servant

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

n/a

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Fanny Kemble Butler

Title:

Journal [of residence in America]

Genre:

Autobiog / Diary, Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

Published by John Murray, 1835

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

27410

Source:

Print

Author:

Samuel Smiles

Editor:

n/a

Title:

A Publisher and His Friends: Memoir and Correspondence of the Late John Murray

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1891

Vol:

2

Page:

403-404

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Samuel Smiles, A Publisher and His Friends: Memoir and Correspondence of the Late John Murray, (London, 1891), 2, p. 403-404, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=27410, accessed: 19 May 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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