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: 28058


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Catherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, 14 March 1752: 'I have begun reading a book which promises some laughing amusement, "The Female Quixote;" the few chapters I read to my mother last night while we were undressing were whimsical enough and not at all low. I have not read Amelia, yet, but have seen it read and commented upon much to my edification by that good Bishop of Gloucester, who seldom misses spending two or three days of the week at this deanery [...] I have been particularly delighted with some of our afternoons, when we have sat unmolested by my dressing-room fire-side, he reading Amelia (and quarreling excessively at the two first volumes) my mother and I reading or working, or following our own devices as it might happen, and every one mixing little interruptions of chat as things come into their heads; with not a single ring at the door to disturb us.'

Century:

1700-1799

Date:

Between 1 Mar 1752 and 14 Mar 1752

Country:

England

Time

afternoon

Place:

city: London
specific address: St Paul's Deanery
location in dwelling: Dressing-room of Catherine Talbot (the Dean's stepdaughter)

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:

Martin Benson

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

23 Apr 1689

Socio-Economic Group:

Clergy (includes all denominations)

Occupation:

Bishop of Gloucester

Religion:

Anglican

Country of Origin:

n/a

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Henry Fielding

Title:

Amelia (volumes 1 and 2)

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

28058

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Montagu Pennington

Title:

A Series of Letters between Mrs Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the year 1741 to 1770. To which are added, Letters from Mrs Eliazbeth Carter to Mrs Vesey, between the years 1763 and 1787

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1809

Vol:

2

Page:

68-69

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Montagu Pennington (ed.), A Series of Letters between Mrs Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot, from the year 1741 to 1770. To which are added, Letters from Mrs Eliazbeth Carter to Mrs Vesey, between the years 1763 and 1787 (London, 1809), 2, p. 68-69, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=28058, accessed: 25 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design