Record Number: 29569

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Meeting held at Broomfield: 22.3.1932
George Burrow in the chair
1. The minutes of last were read by Sylvanus Reynolds, who had kindly deputised for the Secretary in his absence.

[...]

7. F. E. Pollard then spoke on the Victorians and their literature.[...] When the paper was discussed there proved to be a very general measure of consent.[...]

Howard Smith disturbed us a little by accusing the Victorians of complacency[...].

Finally Reginald Robson deplored the disappearance of the Victorian countryside. As it was foretold by Malthus the Economist, so it had come to pass. Over population had done its work. There could be no more rural simplicity or village Hampdens, no more nurture of man by nature any more. The Victorian age can be guaranteed unique: the mould from which it was cast has been shattered.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

22 Mar 1932

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: Broomfield

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Reginald H. Robson

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1877

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

n/a

Religion:

Quaker or associated with the Friends

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

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

Members of the XII Book Club

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Reginald H. Robson

Title:

[On overpopulation and the disappearance of the Victorian countryside]

Genre:

Essays / Criticism, History, Social Science, Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

29569

Source:

Manuscript

Author:

Victor Alexander

Title:

XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 3 (1931-1938)

Location:

private collection

Call No:

n/a

Page/Folio:

26-29

Additional Information:

Victor Alexander was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1931 to 1940. It is inferred from this that he was the author of this set of minutes.

Citation:

Victor Alexander, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 3 (1931-1938), private collection, 26-29, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=29569, accessed: 14 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Material by kind permission of the XII Book Club. For further information and permission to quote this source, contact the Reading Experience Database (http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/contacts.php).