concept

A man who is trying to read being disturbed by a family in conversation. Wood engraving by Swain after F. Barnard.

Thomas Denman. Stipple engraving.

Saint Mary Magdalen. Engraving by L.M. Halbou after Molenchon after A. van der Werff.

A boy so absorbed in reading the magazine Furendo that he does not notice a cat eating his plate of fish. Colour process print, 1909.

People living a life of fantasy as a result of being excessively influenced by reading novels. Coloured etching after G.M. Woodward, 1800.

A butcher's boy, reading to improve his mind, is so absorbed in his book that his delivery of meat is stolen by a passer-by. Coloured etching by T.L. Busby, 1826.

A woman reads a book during her toilet and does not concentrate on what she is doing. Aquatint.

A young woman is leaning against a wall reading a book as snowflakes fall. Wood engraving by Dalziel Brothers, 1863, after E. Burne-Jones.

Dr. Marsh. Photograph by Maull & Co.

An old woman falling asleep over reading a book. Etching by F. Novelli after Rembrandt van Rijn.

A young shepherdess reading an improving book while looking after her flock. Line engraving by C. Mellan, 1680.

A young woman (Miss Jones) reading. Mezzotint, 17--, after Catherine Read.

Owners, annotators and the signs of reading / edited by Robin Myers, Michael Harris and Giles Mandelbrote.

Abel Beechcroft, while reading in the library of his house in Lambeth, is disturbed when Hilda Scarve is led into the room by his butler Jukes. Etching by George Cruikshank, 1842.

A man checking a book out of a public library gains the equivalent of going on holiday. Pen and ink drawing by Steve Simpson and Robert D. Dangoor, 2012.

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Books and reading

Images from the collections

Images about Books and reading

Works from the collections

A young woman (Miss Jones) reading. Mezzotint, 17--, after Catherine Read.

Owners, annotators and the signs of reading / edited by Robin Myers, Michael Harris and Giles Mandelbrote.

Saint Mary Magdalen. Engraving by L.M. Halbou after Molenchon after A. van der Werff.

Abel Beechcroft, while reading in the library of his house in Lambeth, is disturbed when Hilda Scarve is led into the room by his butler Jukes. Etching by George Cruikshank, 1842.

A man checking a book out of a public library gains the equivalent of going on holiday. Pen and ink drawing by Steve Simpson and Robert D. Dangoor, 2012.