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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
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Record Number: 161


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Robert Colyer, who rose to become a celebrated Unitarian minister, deliberately chose to dwell upon the moment when, as a child labourer in a Fewston linen factory, he bought his first book, "The History of Whittington and his Cat":..."in that first purchase lay the spark of a fire which has not yet gone down to white ashes, the passion which grew with my growth to read all the books in the early years I could lay my hands on, and in this wise prepare me in some fashion for the work I must do in the ministry... I see myself in the far-away time and cottage reading, as I may truly say in my case, for dear life".'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

unknown

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Fewston

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:

Robert Collyer

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

1823

Socio-Economic Group:

Labourer (non-agricultural)

Occupation:

Unitarian Minister eventually, but child labourer at this time

Religion:

Unitarian

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:

The History of Whittington and his Cat

Genre:

Fiction, Children's Lit

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

161

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:

3

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Jonathan Rose, The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes (New Haven, 2001), p. 3, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=161, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

See Robert Collyer, "Some Memories" (Boston, n.d.) pp.14-22.

   
   
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