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Henrietta Keddie

Henrietta Keddie (1827–1914) was a prolific Scottish novelist who wrote under the pseudonym Sarah Tytler. Her domestic realism became popular with women, as did her conduct books for girls.

Life edit

Henrietta Keddie was born at Cupar, Fife, on 4 March 1827 to Philip Keddie (1793/4–1852), a lawyer, and his wife, Mary, née Gibb (d. 1869). She spent her childhood summers at Grange Farm, outside Elie and Earlsferry, where her father owned a coalmine.[1] She was educated by an older sister, Margaret, and then attended school in Leith for a time.

The family broke up in the 1840s, although "Grange collieries" continued to some extent up to the early 1860s.[2] In 1848, Henrietta and three of her sisters set up a school in Cupar. In 1869, after the death of her parents and most of her siblings, she and Margaret moved to Blackheath, London and then to Kensington. Left alone after Margaret's death in 1880, Henrietta went on a continental tour with friends and an adopted daughter in 1884, and then moved to Oxford for twenty years and Bristol for two, before returning to London, where she died in Belsize Park Gardens on 6 January 1914.[3]

Writings edit

Keddie began writing in the 1850s. Her first two novels failed to sell, however. Her first paid story was "Meg of Elibank", based on a local Selkirk tradition, which appeared in Fraser's Magazine in 1856. Some of her earliest publications appeared in Blackwood's Magazine,[4] others in Cornhill Magazine, Good Words and the Sunday Magazine. These efforts introduced her to writers and intellectuals such as Dr John Brown, Isabella Bird and Margaret Oliphant. Her circle grew in London to include the historian J. A. Froude, Dinah Craik, Mrs Henry Wood, Jean Ingelow and others.[5]

As a prolific writer of novels under the name Sarah Tytler, Keddie was an exponent of domestic realism, which was notably popular among female readers. Her first novel, The Kinnears. A Scottish Story (1852) went unnoticed, but she began to build up a following, particularly after her move to London. Many of her novels had an 18th-century background, including Citoyenne Jacqueline (1865) set in the French Revolution. In relation to her novel Beauty and the Beast (1884), about a private soldier who inherits a baronetcy, the literary biographer Rosemary Mitchell writes, "Although the plot is sensational, her talent for original and sympathetic characterization is considerable and her perception of the problems of social divisions keen and realistic." Saint Mungo's City (1884, about Glasgow) was unusual in focusing on urban, rather than rural Scotland. Perhaps her most famous book was Logie Town (1887), set in her home village of Cupar.[6]

Keddie's work for children and young people was also popular. Papers for Thoughtful Girls (1862; the 1866 edition had illustrations by the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais) and Sweet Counsel. A Book for Girls (1866) covered subjects such as intellect, friendship, self-sacrifice and fashion, revealing "moderately progressive views on women's roles". She also did educational work, such as Musical Composers and their Works (1875) and The Old Masters and their Pictures for the Use of Schools and Learners in Art (1880), and biographical compendia such as Six Royal Ladies of the House of Hanover (1898). Another book of hers was Jane Austen and Her Works (1880), although a later Jane Austen biographer complained that she simply "filled her book with résumés of the novels."[7] Her final work was Three Generations: The Story of a Middle-Class Scottish Family (1911).[8]

The Spectator, reviewing the novel The Blackhall Ghosts on 12 January 1889, had mixed feelings about the characterization: "The writer has made a fine character of Joanna Endicott. Queer she seemed to those who failed to see through her disguise, and she is almost an enigma to us.... However, she is a dignified woman, with deep feelings and a wonderful self-control, and her strange behaviour springs from one overpowering sentiment, the love of home and family. In her the writer has evidently embodied what she believes to be the ideal of a self-reliant, self-controlled woman, animated by a deep-rooted passion. As for her sister Celia, we must frankly say we do not understand her; she is a most extraordinary young lady, and is obviously overdrawn. A more nasty, cruel, and unnatural creature we have never met with in fiction.... Lucy's silliness is probably exaggerated, though she is by far the most natural.... All these portraits require more shading; they are too deeply lined, we might almost say, dug in."[9]

Bibliography edit

There is a partial list of Keddie's works on the Tour Scotland site (see References). However, the entry has several misprints. There are around 140 entries for Sarah Tytler in the British Library Main Catalogue.

References edit

  1. ^ Tour Scotland site. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ^ Grange Colliery, Elie & Earlsferry. Retrieved 2 August 2013. 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ ODNB entry by Rosemary Mitchell. Retrieved 2 August 2013. Pay-walled.
  4. ^ Specialist booksellers' catalogue entry for Sarah Tytler. Women Writers R–Z (London: Jarndyce, 2012).
  5. ^ ODNB entry.
  6. ^ Orlando Project: Retrieved 2 August 2013. Mainly pay-walled.; ODNB entry.
  7. ^ Claire Harman: Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World (Edinburgh: Canongate, 2009), p. 156.
  8. ^ Orlando Project; ODNB entry; Jarndyce catalogue.
  9. ^ The Spectator Archive. Retrieved 2 August 2013.[permanent dead link]

External links edit

henrietta, keddie, 1827, 1914, prolific, scottish, novelist, wrote, under, pseudonym, sarah, tytler, domestic, realism, became, popular, with, women, conduct, books, girls, contents, life, writings, bibliography, references, external, linkslife, edit, born, cu. Henrietta Keddie 1827 1914 was a prolific Scottish novelist who wrote under the pseudonym Sarah Tytler Her domestic realism became popular with women as did her conduct books for girls Contents 1 Life 2 Writings 3 Bibliography 4 References 5 External linksLife editHenrietta Keddie was born at Cupar Fife on 4 March 1827 to Philip Keddie 1793 4 1852 a lawyer and his wife Mary nee Gibb d 1869 She spent her childhood summers at Grange Farm outside Elie and Earlsferry where her father owned a coalmine 1 She was educated by an older sister Margaret and then attended school in Leith for a time The family broke up in the 1840s although Grange collieries continued to some extent up to the early 1860s 2 In 1848 Henrietta and three of her sisters set up a school in Cupar In 1869 after the death of her parents and most of her siblings she and Margaret moved to Blackheath London and then to Kensington Left alone after Margaret s death in 1880 Henrietta went on a continental tour with friends and an adopted daughter in 1884 and then moved to Oxford for twenty years and Bristol for two before returning to London where she died in Belsize Park Gardens on 6 January 1914 3 Writings editKeddie began writing in the 1850s Her first two novels failed to sell however Her first paid story was Meg of Elibank based on a local Selkirk tradition which appeared in Fraser s Magazine in 1856 Some of her earliest publications appeared in Blackwood s Magazine 4 others in Cornhill Magazine Good Words and the Sunday Magazine These efforts introduced her to writers and intellectuals such as Dr John Brown Isabella Bird and Margaret Oliphant Her circle grew in London to include the historian J A Froude Dinah Craik Mrs Henry Wood Jean Ingelow and others 5 As a prolific writer of novels under the name Sarah Tytler Keddie was an exponent of domestic realism which was notably popular among female readers Her first novel The Kinnears A Scottish Story 1852 went unnoticed but she began to build up a following particularly after her move to London Many of her novels had an 18th century background including Citoyenne Jacqueline 1865 set in the French Revolution In relation to her novel Beauty and the Beast 1884 about a private soldier who inherits a baronetcy the literary biographer Rosemary Mitchell writes Although the plot is sensational her talent for original and sympathetic characterization is considerable and her perception of the problems of social divisions keen and realistic Saint Mungo s City 1884 about Glasgow was unusual in focusing on urban rather than rural Scotland Perhaps her most famous book was Logie Town 1887 set in her home village of Cupar 6 Keddie s work for children and young people was also popular Papers for Thoughtful Girls 1862 the 1866 edition had illustrations by the Pre Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais and Sweet Counsel A Book for Girls 1866 covered subjects such as intellect friendship self sacrifice and fashion revealing moderately progressive views on women s roles She also did educational work such as Musical Composers and their Works 1875 and The Old Masters and their Pictures for the Use of Schools and Learners in Art 1880 and biographical compendia such as Six Royal Ladies of the House of Hanover 1898 Another book of hers was Jane Austen and Her Works 1880 although a later Jane Austen biographer complained that she simply filled her book with resumes of the novels 7 Her final work was Three Generations The Story of a Middle Class Scottish Family 1911 8 The Spectator reviewing the novel The Blackhall Ghosts on 12 January 1889 had mixed feelings about the characterization The writer has made a fine character of Joanna Endicott Queer she seemed to those who failed to see through her disguise and she is almost an enigma to us However she is a dignified woman with deep feelings and a wonderful self control and her strange behaviour springs from one overpowering sentiment the love of home and family In her the writer has evidently embodied what she believes to be the ideal of a self reliant self controlled woman animated by a deep rooted passion As for her sister Celia we must frankly say we do not understand her she is a most extraordinary young lady and is obviously overdrawn A more nasty cruel and unnatural creature we have never met with in fiction Lucy s silliness is probably exaggerated though she is by far the most natural All these portraits require more shading they are too deeply lined we might almost say dug in 9 Bibliography editThere is a partial list of Keddie s works on the Tour Scotland site see References However the entry has several misprints There are around 140 entries for Sarah Tytler in the British Library Main Catalogue References edit Tour Scotland site Retrieved 2 August 2013 Grange Colliery Elie amp Earlsferry Retrieved 2 August 2013 Archived 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine ODNB entry by Rosemary Mitchell Retrieved 2 August 2013 Pay walled Specialist booksellers catalogue entry for Sarah Tytler Women Writers R Z London Jarndyce 2012 ODNB entry Orlando Project Retrieved 2 August 2013 Mainly pay walled ODNB entry Claire Harman Jane s Fame How Jane Austen Conquered the World Edinburgh Canongate 2009 p 156 Orlando Project ODNB entry Jarndyce catalogue The Spectator Archive Retrieved 2 August 2013 permanent dead link External links editWorks by Sarah Tytler at Project Gutenberg A Houseful of Girls 1 and Girlhood and Womanhood 2 are among several of Keddie s work available for reading online Works by or about Henrietta Keddie at Internet Archive Works by or about Sarah Tytler at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henrietta Keddie amp oldid 1176662530, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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