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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: 9698


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

Harriet Martineau, on her research for a story to be set in Ceylon: 'I gathered what I could from books, but really feared being obliged to give up a singularly good illustrative scene for want of the commonest facts concerning the social life of the Cingalese. I found scarcely anything even in Maria Graham and Heber. At this precise time, a friend happened to bring to my lodging [...] Sir Alexander Johnstone, who had just returned from governing Ceylon [...] Before we had known one another half an hour, I confided to him my difficulty. He started of [...] and was soon at the door again, with his carriage full of books, prints and other illustrations [...] Among the volumes he left with me was a Columbo almanack, which furnished me with names, notices of customs, and other valuable matters.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

Between 1 Jan 1833 and 31 Dec 1833

Country:

unknown

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:

Harriet Martineau

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

12 Jun 1802

Socio-Economic Group:

Professional / academic / merchant / farmer

Occupation:

Writer

Religion:

Unitarian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

unknown

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

Title:

Columbo almanack

Genre:

Geography / Travel, Reference / General works

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

borrowed (other)


Source Information:

Record ID:

9698

Source:

Print

Author:

Harriet Martineau

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Harriet Martineau's Autobiography

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1877

Vol:

1

Page:

245-46

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Harriet Martineau, Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (London, 1877), 1, p. 245-46, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=9698, accessed: 28 March 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
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