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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: 26536


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

[Lengthy, uncomplimentary quote from H. E. Bates on D. H. Lawrence] 'Perhaps you would like to know who is writing this? H. E. Ballocks. I mean H. E. Bastard. That is, H. E. Bates: [Quotes H. E. Bates comparing Lawrence unfavourably to Rilke]... No, I can't go on. When will these sodding loudmouthed cunting shitstuffed pisswashed sons of poxed-up bitches learn that there is something greater than literature? A bastard who can bastard well write bastard shit like that bastard well ought to be bastard well stuffed with broken glass, the bastard.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

Between 9 Aug 1922 and 16 Sep 1941

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

specific address: 73 Coten End, Warwick

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:

Philip Larkin

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

9 Aug 1922

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Student, Librarian, Poet

Religion:

n/a

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:

Herbert Ernest Bates

Title:

n/a

Genre:

Poetry, Biography

Form of Text:

Unknown

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

26536

Source:

Print

Author:

Philip Larkin

Editor:

Anthony Thwaite

Title:

Selected Letters of Philip Larkin 1940-1985

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1992

Vol:

n/a

Page:

21-22

Additional Comments:

The letter is to JB Sutton, dated 16 September 1941. Bates's exact work being read is unnamed.

Citation:

Philip Larkin, Anthony Thwaite (ed.), Selected Letters of Philip Larkin 1940-1985 (London, 1992), p. 21-22, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=26536, accessed: 19 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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