Record Number: 34334
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
After listing some canonical writers discussed by Pound and whom Ford had never read he then goes on to write: 'On the other hand I possess a certain patience and, if I feel that I am going to get anything out of it I can read in a prose or verse book for an infinite space of time. At school I was birched into reading Vergil, who always excited in me the same hostility that was aroused by Goethe's FAUST. Homer was also spoiled for me a good deal by the schoolmaster. The schoolmaster did not contrive however to spoil for me Euripides. I have a good part of the BACCHAE and some of the ALKESTIS still by heart. But so, indeed, I have Books Two and nine of the AENEID, so that those mnemonics form no criterion; But for myself I have, I have read most of the books recommended for the formation of my mind in HOW TO READ—excepting of course "CONFUCIUS in full..." [...] I have read Doughty's DAWN IN BRITAIN, an epic in twelve books. And SORDELLO only last night. And CANTO'S.'
Century:1850-1899
Date:Between 9 Sep 1889 and 10 Nov 1890
Country:England
Timedaytime
Place:city: London
specific address: University College School, Gower Street
location in dwelling: schoolroom
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reader: Age:Child (0-17)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:17 Dec 1873
Socio-Economic Group:Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation:Student
Religion:Catholic
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: Title:Faust
Genre:Drama
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceunknown
either owned or provided by the school
Source Information:
Record ID:34334
Source:Ezra Pound
Editor:Brita Lindberg-Seyersted
Title:Pound/Ford: The Story of a Literary Friendship
Place of Publication:New York
Date of Publication:1982
Vol:n/a
Page:104
Additional Comments:
Ford reviewing in April 1932 in the "New Review" Ezra Pound's book of essays 'How to Read' which had appeared in book form in 1931.
Citation:
Ezra Pound, Brita Lindberg-Seyersted (ed.), Pound/Ford: The Story of a Literary Friendship, (New York, 1982), p. 104, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=34334, accessed: 13 November 2024
Additional Comments:
The date range and place of reading are somewhat speculative, but the evidence suggests that Ford read 'Faust' under duress at his London school rather than at the innovative Pretoria House boarding school at Folkestone which he attended until his father's death in 1889.