Record Number: 3700
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
Timen/a
Place:city: London
specific address: 19 Porchester Sq
(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: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
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:New America
Genre:Geography / Travel
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Details1866
Provenanceunknown
Source Information:
Record ID:3700
Source: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: 25 April 2025
Additional Comments:
None