def read(self, symbol, as_of=None, date_range=None, from_version=None, allow_secondary=None, **kwargs):
        """
        Read data for the named symbol.  Returns a VersionedItem object with
        a data and metdata element (as passed into write).

        Parameters
        ----------
        symbol : `str`
            symbol name for the item
        as_of : `str` or `int` or `datetime.datetime`
            Return the data as it was as_of the point in time.
            `int` : specific version number
            `str` : snapshot name which contains the version
            `datetime.datetime` : the version of the data that existed as_of the requested point in time
        date_range: `arctic.date.DateRange`
            DateRange to read data for.  Applies to Pandas data, with a DateTime index
            returns only the part of the data that falls in the DateRange.
        allow_secondary : `bool` or `None`
            Override the default behavior for allowing reads from secondary members of a cluster:
            `None` : use the settings from the top-level `Arctic` object used to query this version store.
            `True` : allow reads from secondary members
            `False` : only allow reads from primary members

        Returns
        -------
        VersionedItem namedtuple which contains a .data and .metadata element
        """
        try:
            read_preference = self._read_preference(allow_secondary)
            _version = self._read_metadata(symbol, as_of=as_of, read_preference=read_preference)
            return self._do_read(symbol, _version, from_version,
                                 date_range=date_range, read_preference=read_preference, **kwargs)
        except (OperationFailure, AutoReconnect) as e:
            # Log the exception so we know how often this is happening
            log_exception('read', e, 1)
            # If we've failed to read from the secondary, then it's possible the
            # secondary has lagged.  In this case direct the query to the primary.
            _version = mongo_retry(self._read_metadata)(symbol, as_of=as_of,
                                                        read_preference=ReadPreference.PRIMARY)
            return self._do_read_retry(symbol, _version, from_version,
                                       date_range=date_range,
                                       read_preference=ReadPreference.PRIMARY,
                                       **kwargs)
        except Exception as e:
            log_exception('read', e, 1)
            raise