Record Number: 31532
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
'Meeting held at 219, Kings Road. 15th October 1942.
Dorothea Taylor in the chair
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
2. The secretary read a card from Mr Dyson regretting that he is completely
unqualified to address us on Russian Literature
[...]
3. The question of new members was again raised and the secretary reported that
she had written to Mr. & Mrs. Fawcett extending our renewed invitation to them to
join the Club. & their reply, regretting that they are unable to accept, was read.
[...]
[...]
5. After some excellent refreshments, we devoted the rest of the evening to the
study of Charles Lamb. Roger Moore first gave us the story of his life – how he
was educated at Christ’s Hospital where he met and formed a life-lon friendship
with S. T. Coleridge, then of his appointment in the East India House. We heard of
the curse of madness which hung over the Lamb family & how in 1796 his Mother
was killed by his sister Mary in a fit of insanity. Lamb was magnificent in this
tragedy & devoted the rest of his life to the care of his sister who remained
subject to periodic seizures. Lamb wrote essays, poetry, letters & with his sister
he wrote Tales from Shakespeare. He was also one of the first literary & dramatic
critics.
6. F. E. Pollard read some of Lambs letters, illustrating his great love of London –
professed abhorrence of the Lake District – also his love of good food and in
particular of Cambridge Brawn.
7. S. A Reynolds read an extract from one of Lamb’s last essays, also two of his
sonnets one of which he contrasted with an amended version by Coleridge.
8. Elsie Harrod read Lamb’s essay on his visit to MACKERY END in Hertfordshire of
which he had childish memories & family associations.
9. Arnold Joselin read part of the Essay on Christ’s Hospital & as an Old Blue he
was able to enlarge on & explain some details & also to reassure us that certain
ancient practices are now discontinued. [...]
[signature of] Arnold G. Joselin
14 Nov. 1942'
1900-1945
Date:15 Oct 1942
Country:England
Timeevening
Place:city: Reading
county: Berkshire
specific address: 219 King's Road
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Female
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:n/a
Religion:Quaker
Country of Origin:Unknown
Country of Experience:England
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
Members of the XII Book Club
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:‘Mackery End, In Hertfordshire’
Genre:Essays / Criticism
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:31532
Source:Manuscript
Author:Margaret Dilks
Title:XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943)
Location:private collection
Call No:n/a
Page/Folio:132–5
Additional Information:
Margaret Dilks was secretary to the XII Book Club from 1940 to 1970. It is inferred from this, and from the handwriting, that she was the author of this set of minutes.
Citation:
Margaret Dilks, XII Book Club Minute Book, Vol. 4 (1938-1943), private collection, 132–5, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=31532, accessed: 07 October 2024
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).