Reading Experience Database
1450-1945

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Record 12904

Reading Experience:

Evidence:
'? I had a sight of ?Waverley? soon after I received your letter, and I cannot help saying that, in my opinion, it is by far the best novel that has been written these thirty years - at least, that I know of. Eben. Cruickshanks, mine host of The Seven Golden Candlesticks, and Mr. Gifted Gilfillan, are described in the spirit of Smollett or Cervantes. Who does not shed a tear for the ardent Vich Ian Vohr, and the unshaken Evan Dhu, when perishing amid the shouts of an English mob, they refuse to swerve from their principles? And who will refuse to pity the marble Callum Beg, when, hushed in the strife of death, he finishes his earthly career on Clifton Moor, far from the blue mountains of the North, without one friend to close his eyes? 'Tis an admirable performance. Is Scott still the reputed author?' Editor's addition: [In this letter Carlyle mentions reading Euler's ?Algebra,?1 Addison's ?Freeholder,?2 Cuvier's ?Theory of the Earth,?3 Moli?re's ?Comedies,? the monthly reviews, critical journals, etc.]
Century: 1800-1849
Date: Between 1 Jan 1814 and 31 Dec 1814
Country: Scotland
Time: n/a
Place: city: Annan
   
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:Thomas Carlyle
Age Adult (18-100+)
Gender Male
Date of Birth 4 Dec 1795
Socio-economic group: Professional / academic / merchant / farmer
Occupation: teacher, later man of letters
Religion: Christian
Country of origin: Scotland
Country of experience: Scotland
Listeners present if any:
(e.g. family, servants, friends, workmates)
n/a
Additional comments: n/a

 

Text Being Read:

Author: Leonhard Euler
Title: Elements of Algebra
Genre: Mathematics
Form of Text: Print: Book
Publication details: n/a
Provenance: unknown

 

Source Information:

Record ID: 12904  
Source - Print  
  Author: n/a
  Editor: Charles Richard Sanders
  Title: The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle
  Place of Publication: Durham, NC
  Date of Publication: 1970
  Vol: I
  Page: 35
  Additional comments: Letter to Thomas Murray

Citation: Charles Richard Sanders (ed.), The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle (Durham, NC, 1970), I, p. 35, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=12904, accessed: 29 March 2024

Additional comments:

 

 

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