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

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Record Number: 8855


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Mary Berry, in letter of 2 January 1800: 'I have been reading [...] a new novel of Godwin's, in four vols., called "The Travels of St. Leon." it is an odd work, like all his, and, like all his, interesting, tho' hardly ever pleasantly so; and while one's head often agrees with his observations, and sometimes with his reasoning, never does one's heart thoroughly agree with his sentiments on any subject or in any character [...] I should tell you, which I know from Edwards, that it was written for bread, agreed for by the booksellers beforehand, and actually composed and written as the printers wanted it. I think you will see many marks of this throughout the work if you read it, which I should recommend to you, if, like me, you have not seen a [italics]readable[end italics] novel this age.'

Century:

1700-1799, 1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Dec 1799 and 2 Jan 1800

Country:

England

Time

n/a

Place:

city: London

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:

Mary Berry

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

16 Mar 1763

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:

William Godwin

Title:

St Leon

Genre:

Fiction

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

1799

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

8855

Source:

Print

Author:

n/a

Editor:

Lady Theresa Lewis

Title:

Extracts of the Journal and Correspondence of Miss Berry From the Year 1783 to 1852

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1865

Vol:

2

Page:

111

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Lady Theresa Lewis (ed.), Extracts of the Journal and Correspondence of Miss Berry From the Year 1783 to 1852 (London, 1865), 2, p. 111, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=8855, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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