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

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
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Record Number: 2305


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Once or twice some description of physical pain broke through my detachment: the detailed account of the binding of a young girl's feet in a missionary book about China, or the evocation of the agony, like walking on a thousand knives, endured by the mermaid who was given human legs. The story of 'The Little Mermaid' was in fact one which did make me feel and understand. The hopelessness of a relationship between two people born in different elements was somehow an emotion which I could grasp to the point of distress and one which came back to me in adult life with a sense of complete continuity. But this understanding was almost an aberration.

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 01 Jan 1925 and 31 Dec 1937

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: Exmouth
location in dwelling: at home, or
other location: school

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:

Patricia Beer

Age:

Child (0-17)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

4 Nov 1919

Socio-Economic Group:

Clerk / tradesman / artisan / smallholder

Occupation:

daughter of railway clerk

Religion:

Plymouth Brethren

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:

Hans Christian Anderson

Title:

The Little Mermaid

Genre:

Fiction, Children's Lit

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

2305

Source:

Print

Author:

Patricia Beer

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Mrs Beer's House

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1968

Vol:

n/a

Page:

102-103

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Patricia Beer, Mrs Beer's House (London, 1968), p. 102-103, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=2305, accessed: 24 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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