Fall 2015, the Sabbaticalization: Day Three

I continue to think that this sabbatical would be greatly improved by my ability to read comfortably, although magnifying the computer screen certainly works wonders.

1) Reading: Read two books in full, Samuel Pickering Jr.'s Moral Instruction and Fiction for Children, 1749-1820 and Barbara Hofland's Reflection: A Tale (1826).  Reflection is the primary virtue of Clara, our heroine (she learns to see clearly--get it?), who tends not to apply it until it's too late.  However, after being summarily orphaned, deprived of both grandparents, and connived against by her wicked stepmother (who tries to ship her off to India and puts about rumors that she's illegitimate), she develops sufficient Christian virtue to merit marrying her clerical cousin. There's also an especially bratty kid.  One can see why some reviewers complained about sensationalism in religious fiction, what with the missing will and the evil widow.  In the background, the novel criticizes the effects on English moral values of going out to India.

2) Writing: Wrote a bit over 500 words.  (Hey! I've officially started this book!)

3) Miscellaneous: Trekked to the library and checked out quite a few books on authorship, professionalization, and gender.