Record Number: 3544

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Letter 6/9/1857 (Bridge of Allan) - 'I am very glad those are the reasons for your dislike of Mme de Genlis - both because I can entirely agree in the general principle of them - and because I can defend - or think I can defend, my favourite from the application of them. ... I would go farther than most people in requiring sincerity, whether in art or education, I have found it, in practical matters, so curiously difficult to determine what is, or is not, insincerity... let us go at once to the examples of all sincerity in Him who was the Truth... tell me what rule you have fixed upon as in all cases setting limits to dissimulation - I will try and apply your rule to Mme de Genlis - and then say what I can for her. I like her for her love of heroism - her unselfishness - her general grace of feeling - her love of nature, blooming out as it does through the fashions and the ignorance of her time as a girl's love of wild sweetbriar might be detected among the formalities of her court bouquet - and her exquisite expression of the truths she does perceive.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

unknown

Country:

Probably Britain, but the author did travel to Europe on extended tours

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Bridge of Allan

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:

John Ruskin

Age:

Unknown

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

8 Feb 1819

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer and art critic

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

Probably Britain, but the author did travel to Europe on extended tours

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Stephane-Felicite de Genlis

Title:

unknown

Genre:

Fiction, Education, Conduct books

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

3544

Source:

Print

Author:

John Ruskin

Editor:

Virginia Surtees

Title:

Sublime and Instructive. Letters from John Ruskin to Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, Anna Blunden and Ellen Heaton

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1972

Vol:

n/a

Page:

16-18

Additional Comments:

From letters written in Scotland to Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford

Citation:

John Ruskin, Virginia Surtees (ed.), Sublime and Instructive. Letters from John Ruskin to Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, Anna Blunden and Ellen Heaton, (London, 1972), p. 16-18, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=3544, accessed: 20 April 2025

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Additional Comments:

None