Listings for Reader:
Henry Crabb Robinson
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William Blake : unknown
'[Henry Crabb] Robinson recorded on 24 May 1812 that "I read Wordsworth some of Blake's poems; he was pleased with some of them, and considered Blake as having the elements of poetry a thousand times more than either Byron or Scott."'
UnknownCentury: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson
Jane Austen : Pride and Prejudice
'I sat up till two, as I did last night, to finish "Pride and Prejudice". This novel I consider as one of the most excellent of the works of our female novelists. Its merits lie in the characters, and in the perfectly colloquial style of the dialogue. Mrs. Bennet, the foolish mother, who cannot conceal her projects to get rid of her daughters, is capitally drawn. There is a thick-headed servile parson, also a masterly sketch. His stupid letters and her ridiculous speeches are as delightful as wit. The two daughters are well contrasted - the gentle and candid Jane and the lively but prejudiced Elizabeth, are both portraits, and the development of the passion between Elizabeth and the proud Darcy, who at first hate each other, is executed with skill and effect.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson Print: Book
Jane Austen : Emma
'In the evening read the last volume of "Emma", a novel evincing great good sense, and an acute observation of human life, but it is not interesting. One cares little for Harriet, the kind-hearted girl who falls in love with three men in a year, and yet hers is the best conceived character after all. Emma, the heroine, is little more than a clever woman who does foolish things - makes mistakes for others, and is at last caught unawares herself. We hear rather too much about fools: the kind-hearted but weak father, the silly chattering Miss Bates, who gabbles in the style of polite conversation, and the vulgar impertinence of the Eltons.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson Print: Book
Harriet Martineau : Deerbrook
'I was reading to-day and I have since finished Miss Martineau's "Deerbrook", a capital novel though it is too full of preaching. It is inferior in execution to Miss Austen's novels in the development of common characters, but is suprior in the higher parts.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson Print: Book
Jane Austen : Sense and Sensibility
'I was reading yesterday and to-day "Sense and Sensibility", which I resumed at the second volume. The last volume greatly improves on the first, but I still think it one of the poorest of Miss Austen's novels - that is inferior to "Mansfield Park" and "Pride and Prejudice", which is all I have read.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson Print: Book
Jane Austen : Persuasion
'I went on with "Persuasion", finished it, began "Northanger Abbey", which I have now finished. These two novels have sadly reduced my estimation of Miss Austen. They are little more than galleries of disagreeables and the would-be heroes and heroines are scarcely out of the class of insignificants. Yet I ought to be suspicious perhaps of my own declining judgement.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Henry Crabb Robinson Print: Book
Jane Austen : Northanger Abbey
'I went on with "Persuasion", finished it, began "Northanger Abbey", which I have now finished. These two novels have sadly reduced my estimation of Miss Austen. They are little more than galleries of disagreeables and the would-be heroes and heroines are scarcely out of the class of insignificants. Yet I ought to be suspicious perhaps of my own declining judgement.'
