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Record Number: 32993

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

�We make another sally today � I have the parcel, and the letters and J. Oxenham�s books � "The V.[Vision] Splendid" contains several real poems: those indeed which you [i.e., Owen�s mother] have marked. But the majority of the things have no poetic value at all. The �Cross Roads� is very very good. Otherwise the book has little Pacific Value, if you understand me � "Barbe of Grand Bayou" seems a little too idyllic so far. Oxenham�s aim seems to be to unsophisticate the reader. It is very pleasant to be reminded of Brittany, which seems not to be of this continent at all � The book is at the opposite pole from the O. Henry books which Leslie sent me. Impossible to read them together � At the same time I am at p. 50 of A. & E. Castle�s recent book: "The Hope of the House", which promises well, and which I can recommend � I am in haste to pack � I crave Travel and shall be pleased like any infant to get into a puff-puff again.�

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 6 Jun 1917 and 10 Jun 1917

Country:

France

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Cerisy-Gailly
county: Somme
specific address: 41st Stationary Hospital

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:

Wilfred Owen

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

18 Mar 1893

Socio-Economic Group:

Clerk / tradesman / artisan / smallholder

Occupation:

2/Lt., 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Religion:

Christian (Anglican)

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

France

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

John Oxenham

Title:

Barbe of Grand Bayou

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1903

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

32993

Source:

Print

Author:

Wilfred Owen

Editor:

Harold Owen

Title:

Wilfred Owen: Collected Letters

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1967

Vol:

n/a

Page:

468

Additional Comments:

Letter to Susan Owen, 10 June 1917, 41st Stationary Hospital, Cerisy-Gailly (Somme)

Citation:

Wilfred Owen, Harold Owen (ed.), Wilfred Owen: Collected Letters, (London, 1967), p. 468, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=32993, accessed: 06 February 2026

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Additional Comments:

None