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the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
 
 
 
 

Record Number: 5013


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'As Cornish carpenter George Smith had little access to libraries, he "read every sort of book that came in my way" - novels, history, biblical criticism. He particularly liked mathematics because it was slow reading: "A treatise on algebra or geometry, which cost but a very few shillings, afforded me matter for close study for a year".'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

unknown

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

county: Cornwall

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


Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

George Smith

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1800

Socio-Economic Group:

Clerk / tradesman / artisan / smallholder

Occupation:

carpenter

Religion:

n/a

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:

[unknown]

Title:

[treatises on algebra and geometry]

Genre:

Mathematics

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

5013

Source:

Print

Author:

Jonathan Rose

Editor:

n/a

Title:

The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes

Place of Publication:

New Haven

Date of Publication:

2001

Vol:

n/a

Page:

372

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Jonathan Rose, The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes, (New Haven, 2001), p. 372, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=5013, accessed: 18 April 2024


Additional Comments:

See George Smith, 'The Autobiography of George Smith LL.D, 1800-1868' (London, 1923) p40

   
   
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