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What Is This Thing Called “Reading”?
And what is the difference between reading critically and reading for pleasure?
“The joy of reading seems to be a reflection of the joy of writing, as though the reader were the writer’s ghost.” — Gaston Bachelard
Today, literacy is something we tend to take for granted. But if you were born into a poor family a few hundred years ago, it’s unlikely you’d have been debating the finer points of Alexander Pope.
At the turn of the 19th century, roughly 40 percent of men and 60 percent of women in England and Wales were illiterate. During this period, despite a general belief in the necessity of educating the working classes, there was an ongoing debate about how much should be provided and what exactly should be taught (especially with respect to religion). Arguments over what role the government or the churches should play resulted in major divisions — the Church of England sought to remain dominant over educational provisions for the poor, and sectarian bickering stymied every step taken by the government.
It wasn’t until 1867, when the Second Reform Act was passed, that things really started to change. This legislation granted the vote to most of the male, urban…
