Catherine Sinclair (17 April 1800 – 6 August 1864) was a Scottish novelist and children's writer, who departed from the moralising approach common in that period. She is credited with discovering that the author of the initially anonymous Waverley Novels was Sir Walter Scott.
Sinclair was her father's secretary from the age of 14 until his death in 1835.[4][5] From 1814 to 1818 she lived at Ormeley Lodge, Ham.[6] She was an aunt of the novelist Lucy Bethia Walford.[7]
Sinclair then began to write independently, her first works being children's books, prompted by an interest in her nephew, the Hon. George Boyle, 6th Earl of Glasgow. Her story of two anarchic children, in Holiday House: A Book for the Young, successfully engaged the imagination of young readers. It was a popular and notable example of the genre for departing from the moralising approach of other works for children in that period. It also encapsulates a fantasy tale of fairies and giants.[8]
On children's literature, Sinclair remarks in a preface, "But above all we never forget those who good humouredly complied with the constantly recurring petition of all young people in every generation, and in every house, — 'Will you tell us a story?'"[9]
Sinclair's activities in Edinburgh included charitable works such as the establishment of cooking depots in old and new Edinburgh, and the maintenance of a mission station at the Water of Leith. She was instrumental in securing seats for crowded thoroughfares, and she set the example in Edinburgh of instituting drinking fountains, one of which bore her name and stood at the city's West End before it was removed as an obstruction to trams in 1926. Sinclair is also noted as being the discoverer of Sir Walter Scott's authorship of "The Waverley Novels" which were originally written anonymously.
Catherine Sinclair died on 6 August 1864 at Kensington Vicarage, the residence of her brother, Archdeacon John Sinclair, and was interred in the burial ground of St John's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh. Her portrait was drawn in crayons by James Archer, RSA (cf. Cat. Third Loan Exhib. No. 620).[4] She was unmarried.
A monument, in the style of an Eleanor cross was designed by David Bryce,[10] and sculpted by John Rhind. It was erected to her memory on the southeast corner of St Colme Street in Edinburgh'sNew Town (just north of Charlotte Square), close to her childhood home.[11]
The inscription reads, "She was a friend of all children and through her book 'Holiday House' speaks to them still."[9] The monument was modelled loosely on the Scott Monument, to which she had been a major contributor of funds.
Works
Miss Sinclair wrote brightly and wittily, and displayed much skill in characterisation and description, Several of her books were popular in America.
Undated and early works of Miss Sinclair's are Charlie Seymour;Lives of the Cæsars, or the Juvenile Plutarch;Holiday House: A Book for the Young (written in 1839 and once very popular with children); Modern Superstition; and Memoirs of the English Bible,[4]
^ abcBayne, Thomas Wilson (1897). "Sinclair, Catherine" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co. sources: [Scotsman, 7 Aug. 1864; Gent, Mag, 1864, ii, 654; Archdeacon Sinclair's Memoir of Sir John Sinclair; Anderson's Scottish Nation; information from Mr Cuninghame Steele, advocate, Edinburgh,]
^Mitchell, Charlotte. "Catherine Sinclair". DNB. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
^Green, James; Greenwood, Silvia (1980). Ham and Petersham As It Was. Hendon Publishing. ISBN0860670570. OCLC 16604168. (number 20)
^ODNB entry for Walford, Lucy Bethia. Retrieved 4 August 2013. Pay-walled.
^Reid, Robin Anne (2009). "The creation of Literature for the Young". Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Overviews. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 264. ISBN978-0-313-33591-4. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
^ abAlison, Jim. . Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
^Transactions of the Caledonian Society:Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland
^Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
^Shattock, Joanne (28 March 2000). The Cambridge bibliography of English literature. Cambridge University Press. p. 2192. ISBN978-0-521-39100-9. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
Works by Catherine Sinclair at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
page on Rosslyntemplars.org
January 25, 2023
catherine, sinclair, actress, theatre, manager, catherine, norton, sinclair, april, 1800, august, 1864, scottish, novelist, children, writer, departed, from, moralising, approach, common, that, period, credited, with, discovering, that, author, initially, anon. For the actress and theatre manager see Catherine Norton Sinclair Catherine Sinclair 17 April 1800 6 August 1864 was a Scottish novelist and children s writer who departed from the moralising approach common in that period She is credited with discovering that the author of the initially anonymous Waverley Novels was Sir Walter Scott 6 Charlotte Square now known as Bute House and now the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland Catherine Sinclair Monument Edinburgh Contents 1 Life 2 Siblings 3 Recognition 4 Works 5 References 6 External linksLife EditCatherine Sinclair was born at 9 Charlotte Square 1 in Edinburgh on 17 April 1800 the fourth daughter of Lady Diana Macdonald and Sir John Sinclair 1st Baronet The family lived at 6 Charlotte Square 2 from around 1810 moving later to 133 George Street 3 Sinclair was her father s secretary from the age of 14 until his death in 1835 4 5 From 1814 to 1818 she lived at Ormeley Lodge Ham 6 She was an aunt of the novelist Lucy Bethia Walford 7 Sinclair then began to write independently her first works being children s books prompted by an interest in her nephew the Hon George Boyle 6th Earl of Glasgow Her story of two anarchic children in Holiday House A Book for the Young successfully engaged the imagination of young readers It was a popular and notable example of the genre for departing from the moralising approach of other works for children in that period It also encapsulates a fantasy tale of fairies and giants 8 On children s literature Sinclair remarks in a preface But above all we never forget those who good humouredly complied with the constantly recurring petition of all young people in every generation and in every house Will you tell us a story 9 Sinclair s activities in Edinburgh included charitable works such as the establishment of cooking depots in old and new Edinburgh and the maintenance of a mission station at the Water of Leith She was instrumental in securing seats for crowded thoroughfares and she set the example in Edinburgh of instituting drinking fountains one of which bore her name and stood at the city s West End before it was removed as an obstruction to trams in 1926 Sinclair is also noted as being the discoverer of Sir Walter Scott s authorship of The Waverley Novels which were originally written anonymously Catherine Sinclair died on 6 August 1864 at Kensington Vicarage the residence of her brother Archdeacon John Sinclair and was interred in the burial ground of St John s Episcopal Church Edinburgh Her portrait was drawn in crayons by James Archer RSA cf Cat Third Loan Exhib No 620 4 She was unmarried Siblings EditSir George Sinclair 2nd Baronet John Sinclair 1797 1875 and William Sinclair 1804 1878 were her brothers Recognition EditA monument in the style of an Eleanor cross was designed by David Bryce 10 and sculpted by John Rhind It was erected to her memory on the southeast corner of St Colme Street in Edinburgh s New Town just north of Charlotte Square close to her childhood home 11 The inscription reads She was a friend of all children and through her book Holiday House speaks to them still 9 The monument was modelled loosely on the Scott Monument to which she had been a major contributor of funds Works EditMiss Sinclair wrote brightly and wittily and displayed much skill in characterisation and description Several of her books were popular in America Undated and early works of Miss Sinclair s are Charlie Seymour Lives of the Caesars or the Juvenile Plutarch Holiday House A Book for the Young written in 1839 and once very popular with children Modern Superstition and Memoirs of the English Bible 4 Her other principal works are 12 Modern Accomplishments or the March of Intellect a study of female education 1836 Modern Society or The March of Intellect The Conclusion of Modern Accomplishments 1837 Hill and Valley or Hours in England and Wales 1838 Shetland and the Shetlanders or the Northern Circuit 1840 Scotland and the Scotch or the Western Circuit 1840 republished in America and translated into various languages Modern Flirtations or a Month at Harrowgate 1841 Scotch Courtiers and the Court 1842 Jane Bouverie or Prosperity and Adversity 1846 The Journey of Life 1847 The Business of Life 1848 Sir Edward Graham or Railway Speculators 1849 Lord and Lady Harcourt or Country Hospitalities 1850 The Kaleidoscope or Anecdotes and Aphorisms 1851 Beatrice or the Unknown Relatives 1852 Popish Legends or Bible Truths 1852 London Homes 1853 Cross Purposes 1853 The Cabman s Holiday 1855 Torchester Abbey 1857 Anecdotes of the Caesars 1858 Sketches and Short Stories of Scotland and the Scotch and Shetland and the Shetlanders 1859 Sketches and Short Stories of Wales and the Welsh 1860References Edit Sinclair Catherine British Authors of the Nineteenth Century H C Wilson Company New York 1936 Gazetteer for Scotland 1 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1800 edinburgh Post Office Directory 1810 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1830 a b c Bayne Thomas Wilson 1897 Sinclair Catherine In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 52 London Smith Elder amp Co sources Scotsman 7 Aug 1864 Gent Mag 1864 ii 654 Archdeacon Sinclair s Memoir of Sir John Sinclair Anderson s Scottish Nation information from Mr Cuninghame Steele advocate Edinburgh Mitchell Charlotte Catherine Sinclair DNB Oxford University Press Retrieved 21 August 2011 Green James Greenwood Silvia 1980 Ham and Petersham As It Was Hendon Publishing ISBN 0860670570 OCLC 16604168 number 20 ODNB entry for Walford Lucy Bethia Retrieved 4 August 2013 Pay walled Reid Robin Anne 2009 The creation of Literature for the Young Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy Overviews Vol 1 ABC CLIO p 264 ISBN 978 0 313 33591 4 Retrieved 20 November 2010 a b Alison Jim Towards an Overview of Scottish Children s Literature from 1823 to 2010 Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 20 November 2010 Transactions of the Caledonian Society Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland Buildings of Scotland Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker Shattock Joanne 28 March 2000 The Cambridge bibliography of English literature Cambridge University Press p 2192 ISBN 978 0 521 39100 9 Retrieved 20 November 2010 Attribution Sinclair Catherine Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links EditWorks by Catherine Sinclair at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Catherine Sinclair at Internet Archive Works by Catherine Sinclair at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Catherine Sinclair page on Rosslyntemplars org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catherine Sinclair amp oldid 1098658422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
