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

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Record Number: 22837


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Doctor Grainger, Author of the fine Ode to Solitude printed in Dodsley's Miscellanies wrote a poem while he was in the West Indies and called it the Sugar Cane; it was sent over hither of Course, & when Dr Johnson first laid hold of it he put it in his Pocket without Examination, & carrying it to a place where he was to meet some Literary Friends, told them he had something about him that might in the reading afford them some Amusement: & according begun at the opening of the Poem thus Where shall the Muse her arduous Task begin? where breathless end? Say shall [italics] we sing of Rats? [end italics] Thus does an Author differ from himself, & a great Mind deviate into Absurdity merely for want of friends to look over their Performance.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Until: 30 Apr 1778

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

n/a

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:

Anglican

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

members of his literary Club


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

James Grainger

Title:

Sugar Cane, The

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned


Source Information:

Record ID:

22837

Source:

Print

Author:

Hester Lynch Thrale

Editor:

Katharine C. Balderston

Title:

Thraliana

Place of Publication:

Oxford

Date of Publication:

1951

Vol:

I

Page:

246

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Hester Lynch Thrale, Katharine C. Balderston (ed.), Thraliana (Oxford, 1951), I, p. 246, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=22837, accessed: 16 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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