Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
  RED International Logo

RED Australia logo


RED Canada logo
RED Netherlands logo
RED New Zealand logo

Record Number: 20808


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Here was an excellent library; particularly, a valuable collection of books in Northern literature, with which Johnson was often very busy. One day Mr Wise read to us a dissertation which he was preparing for the press, intitled "A History and Chronology of the fabulous Ages".'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Jun 1754 and 1 Oct 1754

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Ellsfield
county: Oxfordshire
specific address: home of Mr Wise
location in dwelling: library

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:

Samuel Johnson

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

18 Sep 1709

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

writer

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:

[books of Northern literature]

Genre:

Unknown

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

read in situ


Source Information:

Record ID:

20808

Source:

Print

Author:

James Boswell

Editor:

R.W. Chapman

Title:

Life of Johnson

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1980

Vol:

n/a

Page:

192

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

James Boswell, R.W. Chapman (ed.), Life of Johnson (Oxford, 1980), p. 192, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=20808, accessed: 29 March 2024


Additional Comments:

Originally published 1791. 'Memorial' sent to Boswell by Thomas Warton.

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design