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

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Listings for Author:  

Dodsley

 

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Robert Dodsley : The Economy of Human Life

I took up the Economy of Human Life, and was much pleased with the simplicity, ease and elegance of its style. The Biographical Sketch of Dodsley is drawn with much beauty and taste.

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: John Horrocks Ainsworth      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Trifles

'bought Dodsley's "Trifles", a very entertaining book [in margin] Price 1s which Mr E. gave me to buy it with & has likewise given me the book.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Hunter      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley (editor) : A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes

'When I came to extract the remarks on Dodsley, I found [they?] were remarks upon an old edition & that the editors we have published in 1782, have adopted the remarks & c.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Hunter      Print: Book

  

Dodsley : [Annual Register - extract of Crabbe's 'The Library']

'[your letter] has gratified a wish of more than twenty years standing. It is I think fully that time since I was for a great part of a very snowy winter the inhabitant of an old house in the country in a course of poetical study so very like that of your very admirably painted young poet that I could hardly help saying "thats me" when I was reading the tale to my family. Among the very few books which fell under my hands was a volume or two of Dodsley's Register one of which contained copious extracts from the "Village" & the "Library" particularly the conclusion of Book I of the former and an extract from the latter beginning with the desription of the old Romancers. [Scott describes how he memorised these but could not afford to buy the books themselves] You may therefore guess my sincere delight when I saw your poems at a later period assume the rank in the public estimation which they so well deserve'.

Century: 1700-1799 / 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Scott      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Dodsley : [Annual Register - extract of Crabbe's 'The Village']

'[your letter] has gratified a wish of more than twenty years standing. It is I think fully that time since I was for a great part of a very snowy winter the inhabitant of an old house in the country in a course of poetical study so very like that of your very admirably painted young poet that I could hardly help saying "thats me" when I was reading the tale to my family. Among the very few books which fell under my hands was a volume or two of Dodsley's Register one of which contained copious extracts from the "Village" & the "Library" particularly the conclusion of Book I of the former and an extract from the latter beginning with the desription of the old Romancers. [Scott describes how he memorised these but could not afford to buy the books themselves] You may therefore guess my sincere delight when I saw your poems at a later period assume the rank in the public estimation which they so well deserve'.

Century: 1700-1799 / 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Walter Scott      Print: Serial / periodical

  

Robert Dodsley : Preceptor, The

'Mr Dodsley this year brought out his "Preceptor", oned of the most valuable books for the improvement of young minds that has appeared in any language'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Collection of Poems by Several Hands

' [Johnson said] "Sir, you know the notion of confinement may be extended, as in the song, "Every island is a prison." There is, in Dodsley's 'Collection', a copy of verses to the authour of that song". Smith's Latin verses on Pococke, the great traveller, were mentioned. He repeated some of them, and said they were Smith's best verses.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Publick Virtue, a Poem

'[from the Johnsoniana imparted by Bennet Langton to Boswell in 1780] 'Of Dodsley's "Publick Virtue, a Poem", he said, "It was fine blank (meaning to express his usual contempt for blank verse); however, this miserable poem did not sell, and my poor friend Doddy said, Publick Virtue was not a subject to interest the age."'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Cleone, a Tragedy

'[from the Johnsoniana imparted by Bennet Langton to Boswell in 1780] Mr. Langton, when a very young man, read Dodsley's "Cleone, a Tragedy", to him, not aware of his extreme impatience to be read to. As it went on he turned his face to the back of his chair, and put himself into various attitudes, which marked his uneasiness. At the end of an act, however, he said, "Come let's have some more, let's go into the slaughter-house again, Lanky. But I am afraid there is more blood than brains." Yet he afterwards said, "When I heard you read it, I thought higher of its power of language: when I read it myself, I was more sensible of its pathetick effect;" and then he paid it a compliment which many will think very extravagant. "Sir, (said he,) if Otway had written this play, no other of his pieces would have been remembered": Dodsley himself, upon this being repeated to him, said, "It was too much": it must be remembered, that Johnson always appeared not to be sufficiently sensible of the merit of Otway'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Bennet Langton      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Cleone, a Tragedy

'[from the Johnsoniana imparted by Bennet Langton to Boswell in 1780] Mr. Langton, when a very young man, read Dodsley's "Cleone, a Tragedy", to him, not aware of his extreme impatience to be read to. As it went on he turned his face to the back of his chair, and put himself into various attitudes, which marked his uneasiness. At the end of an act, however, he said, "Come let's have some more, let's go into the slaughter-house again, Lanky. But I am afraid there is more blood than brains." Yet he afterwards said, "When I heard you read it, I thought higher of its power of language: when I read it myself, I was more sensible of its pathetick effect;" and then he paid it a compliment which many will think very extravagant. "Sir, (said he,) if Otway had written this play, no other of his pieces would have been remembered": Dodsley himself, upon this being repeated to him, said, "It was too much": it must be remembered, that Johnson always appeared not to be sufficiently sensible of the merit of Otway'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : Collection of Poems by Various Hands

'the Verses written by Bentley upon Learning & publish'd in Dodsley's Miscellanies - how like they are to Evelyn's Verses on Virtue published in Dryden's Miscellanies! yet I do not suppose them a Plagiarisme; old Bentley would have scorned such Tricks, besides what passed once between myself and Mr Johnson should cure me of Suspicion in these Cases. We had then some thoughts of giving a Translation of Boethius, and I used now & then to shew him the Verses I had made towards the Work: in the Ode with the Story of Orpheus in it - beginning "felix qui potuit &c" he altered some of my Verses to these which he [italics] thought [end italics] his own. "Fondly viewed his following Bride Viewing lost, and losing died." Two Years after this, I resolved to go through all th Plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, and in one of them - Bonduca, I found two Lines so like these of Johnson's that one would have sworn he had imitated them: that very Afternoon he came, & says I, did you ever delight much in Reading Beaumont & Fletcher's Plays - I never read any of them at all replied he, but I intend some Time to go over them, here in your fine Edition'.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Hester Lynch Thrale      Print: Book

  

Robert Dodsley : The Ladies' Memorandum Book

[Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter [1758] following stay in London with Carter:] 'I have looked in Dodsley, to see if any events had happened between your leaving town [on 'Wednesday last'] and this time worth mentioning.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Catherine Talbot      Print: Serial / periodical

 

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