Reading Experience Database
1450-1945

Basic Search

Advanced Search

Record 12582

Reading Experience:

Evidence:
Elizabeth Missing Sewell on her reading at home in the Isle of Wight, after leaving her Bath boarding school in 1830: 'I used to study by myself, for I knew that I was woefully ignorant. Such books as Russell's "History of Modern Europe" and Robertson's "Charles the Fifth", I read, and also Watts on the "Improvement of the Mind", and I plodded through an Italian history of the Venetian Doges, lent me by an intimate and valued friend of my father, Mr. Turnbull [...] I taught myself besides to read Spanish -- for having found a Spanish "Don Quixote" lying about, which no one claimed, I took possession of it, bought a grammar and dictionary, and set to work to master the contents of the books which I knew so well by name. The elements of botany on the Linnean system was another of my attempted acquirements, but I am afraid my studies were very superficial: I knew nothing perfectly, but I read everything that came in my way. There was an excellent town library in Newport, from which I could get any good modern works; and, beside the graver literature, I had always some lighter book on hand, and especially delighted in Walter Scott's novels and poetry. Byron, too was a great favourite.'
Century: 1800-1849
Date: Between 1 Jan 1830 and 31 Dec 1830
Country: Great Britain
Time: n/a
Place: county: Isle of Wight
   
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:Elizabeth Sewell
Age Child (0-17)
Gender Female
Date of Birth 19 Feb 1815
Socio-economic group: Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation: Child
Religion: Church of England
Country of origin: Great Britain
Country of experience: Great Britain
Listeners present if any:
(e.g. family, servants, friends, workmates)
n/a
Additional comments: n/a

 

Text Being Read:

Author: George Gordon, Lord Byron
Title: poetry
Genre: Poetry
Form of Text: Print: Book
Publication details: n/a
Provenance: unknown

 

Source Information:

Record ID: 12582  
Source - Print  
  Author: Elizabeth Missing Sewell
  Editor: Eleanor L. Sewell
  Title: The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell
  Place of Publication: London
  Date of Publication: 1908
  Vol: n/a
  Page: 42-43
  Additional comments: n/a

Citation: Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell (ed.), The Autobiography of Elizabeth Missing Sewell (London, 1908), p. 42-43, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=12582, accessed: 28 March 2024

Additional comments:

 

 

Reading Experience Database version 2.0.  Page updated: 27th Apr 2016  3:15pm (GMT)