Record Number: 32800

---

Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'8 April 1742: I have myself, upon your recommendation, been reading Joseph Andrews. The incidents are ill laid and without invention; but the characters have a great deal of nature, which always pleases even in her lowest shapes.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1742 and 8 Apr 1742

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: London

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:

Thomas Gray

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

26 Dec 1716

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer

Religion:

Church of England

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

---

Text Being Read:

Author:

Henry Fielding

Title:

The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

---

Source Information:

Record ID:

32800

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Claude Rawson

Title:

Henry Fielding: A Critical Anthology

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1973

Vol:

n/a

Page:

60

Additional Comments:

Letter from Thomas Gray to Richard West, 8 April 1742.

Citation:

Claude Rawson (ed.), Henry Fielding: A Critical Anthology, (London, 1973), p. 60, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32800, accessed: 09 May 2025

---

Additional Comments:

None