Record Number: 3700

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

"I have hardly read a book except for strictly professional purposes for 3 months & more. One of the few I have read is Dixon's New America. I should like to know what you think of it. It has been a great success here having already passed six editions & being undeniably amusing. My own opinion about it is perhaps coloured by my opinion of Dixon, wh. I further believe to be almost the universal opinion? I think him an offensive snob. ? I think that his book is flashy & written entirely for effect & would probably give to most people a highly incorrect notion. Especially I fancy that he absurdly exaggerates the numbers & importance of Shakers, Junkers, &c&c &c even of Mormons ? but most of all the Spiritualists. Also, though his facts may be right, I should guess the colouring to be wrong. You may tell me what you think if you take the trouble to read the book; but I believe it will give to most English readers the impression that nearly all Americans believe in Spirittrapping, that most of them are either disbelievers in matrimony & hell ? or practisers of polygamy and that a large number live in queer phalansteries or other Socialist contrivances.?

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

Mar 1867

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: London
specific address: 19 Porchester Sq

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:

Leslie Stephen

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

28 Nov 1832

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Literary critic, historian, journalist, biographer

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

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

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

W Hepworth Dixon

Title:

New America

Genre:

Geography / Travel

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1866

Provenance

unknown

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Source Information:

Record ID:

3700

Source:

Print

Author:

Leslie Stephen

Editor:

John Bicknell

Title:

The Selected Letters of Leslie Stephen Vol 1 1864-1882.

Place of Publication:

Ohio State University Press

Date of Publication:

1996

Vol:

1

Page:

45

Additional Comments:

Letter from Leslie Stephen to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Citation:

Leslie Stephen, John Bicknell (ed.), The Selected Letters of Leslie Stephen Vol 1 1864-1882., (Ohio State University Press, 1996), 1, p. 45, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=3700, accessed: 09 May 2025

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Additional Comments:

None