Record Number: 30867

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'First I must tell you that I have read, with immense satisfaction, the "Minor Moralist". It is excellent. I think perhaps the best of all is the essay on Manners. In my opinion, as the Babu says, it could not be surpassed. It's so deliciously pointed, every sentence tells; and so full of admirable sense. It seems to me to hit the exact point of warning and advice before they become too didactic. But that's true of them all. I delight in the preface — the passage about the Oriental and what we call Late is perfect. I admired it very much when I first read it, I remember. The one I like next best is perhaps Thrift. It's extremely good and wise. One thing that strikes me about the whole book is that the style of it is so admirably suited to the matter. It doesn't remind me of anybody, not even I might almost say, of you in your other works. But it reads like the style of someone who knows the good things well - which is not surprising. It's wonderfully simple and yet it has so sharp an edge. While I read it I purr all the time. It makes me feel just what a cat feels when you stroke his back - not that you ever would stroke his back, of course, but you take my meaning? Do keep us au courant of what the critics say. The "Spectator" will give you a leader, or I'm the more mistaken. I predict an immense success. It's absurd to compare the two, but it seems to me, except "Alan's Wife", the best thing you've done. Thank you so much for Wisdom while you Wait. It is funny! I've laughed a great deal over it.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 7 Apr 1903 and 15 Apr 1903

Country:

Hongkong and China, and at sea (South China Sea)

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Hongkong and Shanghai
specific address: Mountain Lodge (Hongkong) and Astor House(Shanhai and
other location: on board ship between Hongkong and Shanghai on the S.S. 'Shanghai'

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:

Hongkong and China, and at sea (South China Sea)

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Florence Bell

Title:

The Minor Moralist: Some essays on the art of everyday conduct

Genre:

Essays / Criticism, Philosophy

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1903

Provenance

owned
gift of author, sent to Hongkong

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Source Information:

Record ID:

30867

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Information:

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

Additional Information:

Leter from Gertrude Bell to Florence Bell 14 April 1903 http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/letter_details.php?letter_id=1392

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=30867, accessed: 19 May 2024

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Additional Comments:

See letter 7 April 1903 for reference to receipt of this book and initial browsing. This is by far the longest commentary to date that Gertrude Bell has made on any book she had read.