Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
  RED International Logo

RED Australia logo


RED Canada logo
RED Netherlands logo
RED New Zealand logo

Record Number: 19067


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett, letter postmarked 10 January 1845: 'I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett [...] since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning and turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon me [...] part of me it has become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew [...] talking with whoever is worthy, I can give a reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought -- but in thus addressing myself to you, your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogether [goes on to describe how had previously missed opportunity of being introduced to Barrett by their mutual friend John Kenyon].'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 15 Dec 1844 and 10 Jan 1845

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:

Robert Browning

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

7 May 1812

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Elizabeth Barrett

Title:

Poems

Genre:

Poetry

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1844

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

19067

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis

Title:

The Brownings' Correspondence

Place of Publication:

Winfield

Date of Publication:

1992

Vol:

10

Page:

17

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Philip Kelley and Scott Lewis (ed.), The Brownings' Correspondence (Winfield, 1992), 10, p. 17, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=19067, accessed: 02 May 2024


Additional Comments:

Source eds note that Kenyon had given a copy of Barrett's Poems to Browning's sister Sarianna during December 1844; and that Browning had only recently returned from Italy, having left England the day before the publication of Barrett's Poems in August 1844; see p.18 n.1.

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design