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: 9760


Reading Experience:

Evidence:

From Harriet Martineau's account of Queen Victoria's coronation: 'About nine, the first gleams of the sun slanted into the abbey [...] The brightness, vastness, and dreamy magnificence of the scene produced a strange effect of exhaustion and sleepiness [...] I determined to withdraw my senses from the scene, in order to reserve my strength [...] for the ceremonial to come. I had carried a book; and I read and ate a sandwich, leaning against my friendly pillar, till I felt refreshed.'

Century:

1800-1849

Date:

28 Jun 1838

Country:

England

Time

morning

Place:

city: London
specific address: Westminster Abbey

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:

England

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

n/a


Additional Comments:

n/a



Text Being Read:

Author:

unknown

Title:

unknown

Genre:

Unknown

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

unknown


Source Information:

Record ID:

9760

Source:

Print

Author:

Harriet Martineau

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Harriet Martineau's Autobiography

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1877

Vol:

2

Page:

124

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

Harriet Martineau, Harriet Martineau's Autobiography (London, 1877), 2, p. 124, http://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/RED/record_details.php?id=9760, accessed: 19 April 2024


Additional Comments:

None

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design