Record Number: 30843

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'We saw dimly some of the lovely African coast. Lots of porpoises lying on the surface of the water, lazily turning up a fin. Hugo and I sat all morning in the sun reading. The temperature was 70° in our sheltered corner. My cold is rather a nuisance. We saw the Illustrious this morning, sister ship to the Caesar. Finished Freeman and began Grote. Rather a long boring afternoon. Bridge after dinner and gladly to bed.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 19 Jan 1902 and 21 Jan 1902

Country:

at sea (Atlantic Ocean)

Time

morning
daytime

Place:

other location: on deck on board the 'Menes' from Liverpool en route for the Mediterranean, off Gibralter

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:

Gertrude Bell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

16 Jul 1868

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

Oxford graduate, language student,traveller, yet to take up formal occupations as archaeologist and later, political advisor

Religion:

originally Christian (Anglican) by now declared atheist

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

at sea (Atlantic Ocean)

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

George Grote

Title:

?History of Greece

Genre:

History

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

unknown

Provenance

unknown
probably owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

30843

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

Gertrude Bell Archive Newcastle University Library http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk

Additional Information:

Diary entry 19 January 1902 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/diary_details.php?diary_id=64

Citation:

Gertrude Bell Archive Newcastle University Library http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=30843, accessed: 17 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

Identity of author and text uncertain but, taken in context it is most likely to be one of the much-read works of the classical historian George Grote, most probably his the "History of Greece" since this was her destination on this journey. She reports finishing the book, 'The best of good reading', on 21 January 1902 after leaving Algers. See also record ID 30842 for Freeman.