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

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Record Number: 11827


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'I started to read a book called "Ishtar". It's not very good but I was very vague as to who Ishtar was - apparently the Babylonian goddess of love, war and fertility. Persepone, Artemis and Freya all in one. Normally Iwould not have bothered with it but a remark in Durrell's "Black Book" had set me wondering about Ishtar, vis - "From music we demand our whole life if it is to move us; every modulation of dream, despair, love, yearning. It is the past and the future going down into the tomb; the descent of Ishtar among the soiled roses; the entry into the chamber of the Cosmos; the first kicking in the womb and the last elegant spasm of cessation, lull, status". "Ishtar" by E.S. Stevens is badly written and rater trite, but quite interesting. I like stories about "digs" and I am rather interested in Baghdad though I know very little about that part of the world.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 1 Jun 1942 and 30 Jun 1942

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:

anon

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Unknown/NA

Occupation:

Housewife

Religion:

unknown

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:

E S Stevens

Title:

Ishtar

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

11827

Source - Manuscript:

Other

Author:

File Report 1332, July 1942, BOOKS AND THE PUBLIC, p. 20, in Mass Observation Online (access to this site is restricted to purchasing institutions, please see http://www.amdigital.co.uk/collections/Mass-Observation-Online for details). http://www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk ,

Citation:

File Report 1332, July 1942, BOOKS AND THE PUBLIC, p. 20, in Mass Observation Online (access to this site is restricted to purchasing institutions, please see http://www.amdigital.co.uk/collections/Mass-Observation-Online for details). http://www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk , http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=11827, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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