He thinks the Bible a book unneccessary for laypeople, although he understands priests make some use of it. He thinks book-reading an affectation altogether, and wishes there were less of it at court. His niece is always reading, Anne Boleyn, which is perhaps why she is unmarried at the age of twenty-eight. He does not see why it’s a gentleman’s business to write letters; there are clerks for that.
Description of the Duke of Norfolk in 1529, from Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, 2009. Part 3, p.5 of 91 (ePub edition)
I’m always intrigued by people’s attitudes to books and reading over the centuries.
By the standards of the Duke of Norfolk, I am definitely affected (and perhaps a little insane, too).
Below is a picture of my current To Read & Dipping Into Book Pile:
The plan is to read them all this long weekend. Yep.
I don’t think it can yet be said that I have abandoned print books.
My ebook collection is very small in comparison – 127 titles, of which only one cost me money. The rest are public domain titles (yay Project Gutenberg) or published free online by their generous authors.
I am not sure, but I think the way I read on my black Kobo is slightly different to the way I read a paper page. It feels like I’m skimming – sort of how I read on a computer screen. Must observe more.
3 Comments
I might try and observe myself too. I may be the opposite. I definitely skim when I read print books. I can go back to favourite books several times and find some detail I missed the first time around.
However I think as there is so little text on the screen with ebook readers I actually read it all ….
I have been wondering whether to read Wolf Hall, it has had excellent reviews, but I have a very soft spot for Thomas More and feel awful for Anne Boleyn, so am afraid I might find it distressing – are you enjoying it?
If you’re reading Wolf Hall, you may have some difficulty getting through your pile of books. I love your pile of books- some interesting titles and certainly puts mine to shame!