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Susan Edmonstone Ferrier

February 23, 2024

Susan Edmonstone Ferrier (7 September 1782 – 5 November 1854) was a Scottish novelist. Her novels, giving vivid accounts of Scottish life and presenting sharp views on women's education, remained popular throughout the 19th century.

Susan Edmonstone Ferrier
Susan Ferrier from an engraving after the 1836 portrait by R. Thorburn
Born(1782-09-07)7 September 1782
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died5 November 1854(1854-11-05) (aged 72)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Resting placeSt Cuthbert's Churchyard, Edinburgh
Occupationnovelist
NationalityScottish
Notable worksMarriage
The Inheritance
Destiny
Susan Ferrier by John Gall 1850

Life edit

Susan Ferrier was the youngest daughter of Helen Coutts (1741–1797) (daughter of Robert Coutts, a farmer near Montrose) and James Ferrier (1744–1829), Writer to the Signet and one of the principal clerks of the Court of Session, in which office he was a colleague of Sir Walter Scott. Her father came from Linlithgow. She was probably born at Lady Stair's Close, Edinburgh, as the ninth of ten surviving children. The family moved in 1784 to 11[1] (now 25) George Street in the New Town.[2]

Ferrier was privately educated. Through her family she came to know many notable Edinburgh people, including Scott and the novelist Henry Mackenzie. In 1797 her father took her in 1797 to Inveraray, home of his client and patron John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll. She became a friend of the family, especially of a granddaughter, Charlotte Clavering (died 1869), with whom she corresponded. Clavering was initially involved in the writing of Ferrier's first novel Marriage, although ultimately her contribution was limited to the section entitled "The History of Mrs Douglas".[3] Some letters between Ferrier and Clavering appear in the front matter of a six-volume edition of the novels.[4]

 
East Morningside House
 
The grave of Susan Ferrier, St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh
 
Gatepost sign

After her mother died, Ferrier kept house for her father, as her three older sisters were married. Like many well-to-do Edinburgh families, they took a house outside the city in the summer, East Morningside House. While there she wrote The Inheritance. She still wished her work to appear anonymously, but her identity was widely known by then.

In 1811 Ferrier visited Scott at Ashiestiel Farm and House on the banks of the River Tweed, near Clovenfords in the Scottish Borders, and again in 1829 and 1831 at his new residence, Abbotsford House. They enjoyed each other's company and he wrote of her: "This gifted personage besides having great talents has conversation the least exigeant of any author, female at least..., simple, full of humour, and exceedingly ready at repartee, and all this without the least affectation of the blue stocking."[1] He mentioned her in the same sentence as Maria Edgeworth and Frances Burney in 1825.[5] Ferrier's account of the visits eventually appeared posthumously in the magazine Temple Bar (1874).

Ferrier's own tastes in literature appear in her letters. She admired Jane Austen and Scott (though she had reservations about some works of his), but scorned John Galt and John Gibson Lockhart.[1] The last of several visits to London was paid in 1830 to see an oculist, when she stayed at the villa of Lord Casilis in Isleworth, the model for a house known as Woodlands in Destiny.[6]

Brought up in the Church of Scotland, Ferrier joined the Free Church after the Disruption of 1843. Her eye troubles contributed to making her reclusive in her old age.[7] She died on 5 November 1854 at her brother's house, 38 Albany Street, Edinburgh, and was buried with her family in St Cuthbert's Churchyard.[1] The grave lies on a main dividing wall immediately north of the church.

Ferrier's eldest brother married the sister of John Wilson, who wrote under the pseudonym Christopher North.[8]

The novels edit

Ferrier wrote three novels. Marriage was written in 1810 but much revised. It was published anonymously in 1818 by the Edinburgh firm of William Blackwood, which paid £150 for it. Its success was remarkable. A French translation appeared in 1825.

In 1824 Blackwood was prepared to pay £1000 for the second novel, The Inheritance, which according to 20th-century scholars, "mixes sententious moralizing with detailed, wry, caustic observation of the 'thrice-told tale' of factors which make unions happy or unhappy."[7] The third novel, Destiny, was dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, who found that Robert Cadell of Edinburgh was willing to pay £1700 in 1831.

In 1841 Ferrier sold the copyrights to the three novels to Richard Bentley, who reissued them in an illustrated edition with authorial revisions. In 1851 this edition was reprinted, with Ferrier's name included for the first time as the author. The library edition of 1881 and 1882 included a Memoir.[9]

A book-length memoir and correspondence appeared in 1898.[10][11] Modern critical appraisals have been sparse, however in 1982 the National Library of Scotland produced a full catalogue of her works and life for an exhibition.[12]

Her novels combine humour with vivid accounts of Scottish social life and sharp views on marriage and female education.[13] They retained their popularity through the 19th century. In the 20th their popularity began to wane, although editions of Marriage have appeared sporadically since the Second World War.[14]

According to an early 20th-century history of literature, "In the novels of Susan Edmonstone Ferrier there is something of the rough sarcasm of Smollett, mingled with a strong didactic flavour and with occasional displays of sentiment that may be due to Mackenzie. To her personal friend Scott, she may have owed something in her studies of Scottish life, but Maria Edgeworth was her principal model." The book criticizes her works for loose plotting and "coarse workmanship", but praises her vigour and calls it "fresh and interesting".[15]

It has been argued recently that the three novels form a trilogy – an extended inquiry on the subjects of nation, history, and the evolution of female consciousness.[5]

Legacy edit

In December 2017, the Scottish author Val McDermid commented in The Observer that she hoped to revive the memory of Ferrier as Scotland's "Jane Austen".[16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  2. ^ Corvey 'Adopt an Author': Susan Edmonstone Ferrier
  3. ^ Elspeth Yeo's ODNB entry: Retrieved 2 May 2012. Subscription required
  4. ^ R. Brimley Johnson (ed.): Marriage (London: J. M. Dent & Co., 1894), Vol. I, pp. xxv–xlv.
  5. ^ a b Victoria Chance's dissertation: Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  6. ^ R. Brimley Johnson... p. xii.
  7. ^ a b Virginia Blain, Patricia Clements and Isobel Grundy: The Feminist Companion to Literature in English. Women Writers from the Middle Ages to the Present (London: Batsford, 1990), p. 368.
  8. ^ R. Brimley Johnson... p. x.
  9. ^ R. Brimley Johnson..., p. vii.
  10. ^ Memoir and Correspondence of Susan Ferrier, 1782–1854... (London: J. Murray, 1898. reprinted 1929).
  11. ^ "Review of Memoir and Correspondence of Susan Ferrier, edited by John A. Doyle". The Academy and Literature. 56 (1396): 152–153. 4 February 1899.
  12. ^ Susan Ferrier 1782–1854 (Edinburgh: National Library of Scotland, 1982). ISBN 0-902220-55-1.
  13. ^ Entry for Susan Ferrier in The Cambridge Guide to Women's Writing in English (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 1999), accessed through Credo: Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  14. ^ E. g. in the Oxford English Novels series in 1971 – ISBN 0-19-255349-6 – later reprinted as a World's Classics paperback. ISBN 0-19-282524-0.
  15. ^ The Cambridge History of English and American Literature (Cambridge UP/G. P. Putnam's Sons: Cambridge, UK/New York, 1907–21). Vol XII, Ch. XI, § 1. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  16. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (30 December 2017). "Resurrection woman: crime writer revives reputation of the 'Scottish Jane Austen'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 30 December 2017.

Further reading edit

  • Joe Herkes, Susan Ferrier: Shy Satirist, in Lindsay, Maurice (ed.), The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment 28, November 1982, pp. 37–40, ISSN 0140-0894
  • Val McDermid (2017), Introduction to Marriage, Virago Modern Classics, pp. vii - xi, ISBN 9780349011219

External links edit

 
Wikisource has original works by or about:
Susan Edmonstone Ferrier
  • A critical treatment: Victoria Chance: The Romantic Novels of Susan Edmonstone Ferrier (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2009). ISBN 978-3-8383-0852-4.
  • A short bibliography: Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  • A silhouette of Susan Ferrier from about 1830, done by Augustin Edouart: Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  • Works by Susan Ferrier at Project Gutenberg
  • Works by or about Susan Edmonstone Ferrier at Internet Archive
  • Works by Susan Edmonstone Ferrier at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)  

February 23, 2024
susan, edmonstone, ferrier, september, 1782, november, 1854, scottish, novelist, novels, giving, vivid, accounts, scottish, life, presenting, sharp, views, women, education, remained, popular, throughout, 19th, century, susan, ferrier, from, engraving, after, . Susan Edmonstone Ferrier 7 September 1782 5 November 1854 was a Scottish novelist Her novels giving vivid accounts of Scottish life and presenting sharp views on women s education remained popular throughout the 19th century Susan Edmonstone FerrierSusan Ferrier from an engraving after the 1836 portrait by R ThorburnBorn 1782 09 07 7 September 1782Edinburgh ScotlandDied5 November 1854 1854 11 05 aged 72 Edinburgh ScotlandResting placeSt Cuthbert s Churchyard EdinburghOccupationnovelistNationalityScottishNotable worksMarriageThe InheritanceDestinySusan Ferrier by John Gall 1850 Contents 1 Life 2 The novels 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife editSusan Ferrier was the youngest daughter of Helen Coutts 1741 1797 daughter of Robert Coutts a farmer near Montrose and James Ferrier 1744 1829 Writer to the Signet and one of the principal clerks of the Court of Session in which office he was a colleague of Sir Walter Scott Her father came from Linlithgow She was probably born at Lady Stair s Close Edinburgh as the ninth of ten surviving children The family moved in 1784 to 11 1 now 25 George Street in the New Town 2 Ferrier was privately educated Through her family she came to know many notable Edinburgh people including Scott and the novelist Henry Mackenzie In 1797 her father took her in 1797 to Inveraray home of his client and patron John Campbell 5th Duke of Argyll She became a friend of the family especially of a granddaughter Charlotte Clavering died 1869 with whom she corresponded Clavering was initially involved in the writing of Ferrier s first novel Marriage although ultimately her contribution was limited to the section entitled The History of Mrs Douglas 3 Some letters between Ferrier and Clavering appear in the front matter of a six volume edition of the novels 4 nbsp East Morningside House nbsp The grave of Susan Ferrier St Cuthberts Churchyard Edinburgh nbsp Gatepost signAfter her mother died Ferrier kept house for her father as her three older sisters were married Like many well to do Edinburgh families they took a house outside the city in the summer East Morningside House While there she wrote The Inheritance She still wished her work to appear anonymously but her identity was widely known by then In 1811 Ferrier visited Scott at Ashiestiel Farm and House on the banks of the River Tweed near Clovenfords in the Scottish Borders and again in 1829 and 1831 at his new residence Abbotsford House They enjoyed each other s company and he wrote of her This gifted personage besides having great talents has conversation the least exigeant of any author female at least simple full of humour and exceedingly ready at repartee and all this without the least affectation of the blue stocking 1 He mentioned her in the same sentence as Maria Edgeworth and Frances Burney in 1825 5 Ferrier s account of the visits eventually appeared posthumously in the magazine Temple Bar 1874 Ferrier s own tastes in literature appear in her letters She admired Jane Austen and Scott though she had reservations about some works of his but scorned John Galt and John Gibson Lockhart 1 The last of several visits to London was paid in 1830 to see an oculist when she stayed at the villa of Lord Casilis in Isleworth the model for a house known as Woodlands in Destiny 6 Brought up in the Church of Scotland Ferrier joined the Free Church after the Disruption of 1843 Her eye troubles contributed to making her reclusive in her old age 7 She died on 5 November 1854 at her brother s house 38 Albany Street Edinburgh and was buried with her family in St Cuthbert s Churchyard 1 The grave lies on a main dividing wall immediately north of the church Ferrier s eldest brother married the sister of John Wilson who wrote under the pseudonym Christopher North 8 The novels editFerrier wrote three novels Marriage was written in 1810 but much revised It was published anonymously in 1818 by the Edinburgh firm of William Blackwood which paid 150 for it Its success was remarkable A French translation appeared in 1825 In 1824 Blackwood was prepared to pay 1000 for the second novel The Inheritance which according to 20th century scholars mixes sententious moralizing with detailed wry caustic observation of the thrice told tale of factors which make unions happy or unhappy 7 The third novel Destiny was dedicated to Sir Walter Scott who found that Robert Cadell of Edinburgh was willing to pay 1700 in 1831 In 1841 Ferrier sold the copyrights to the three novels to Richard Bentley who reissued them in an illustrated edition with authorial revisions In 1851 this edition was reprinted with Ferrier s name included for the first time as the author The library edition of 1881 and 1882 included a Memoir 9 A book length memoir and correspondence appeared in 1898 10 11 Modern critical appraisals have been sparse however in 1982 the National Library of Scotland produced a full catalogue of her works and life for an exhibition 12 Her novels combine humour with vivid accounts of Scottish social life and sharp views on marriage and female education 13 They retained their popularity through the 19th century In the 20th their popularity began to wane although editions of Marriage have appeared sporadically since the Second World War 14 According to an early 20th century history of literature In the novels of Susan Edmonstone Ferrier there is something of the rough sarcasm of Smollett mingled with a strong didactic flavour and with occasional displays of sentiment that may be due to Mackenzie To her personal friend Scott she may have owed something in her studies of Scottish life but Maria Edgeworth was her principal model The book criticizes her works for loose plotting and coarse workmanship but praises her vigour and calls it fresh and interesting 15 It has been argued recently that the three novels form a trilogy an extended inquiry on the subjects of nation history and the evolution of female consciousness 5 Legacy editIn December 2017 the Scottish author Val McDermid commented in The Observer that she hoped to revive the memory of Ferrier as Scotland s Jane Austen 16 See also editJames Frederick Ferrier her nephew References edit a b c d Retrieved 31 August 2018 Corvey Adopt an Author Susan Edmonstone Ferrier Elspeth Yeo s ODNB entry Retrieved 2 May 2012 Subscription required R Brimley Johnson ed Marriage London J M Dent amp Co 1894 Vol I pp xxv xlv a b Victoria Chance s dissertation Retrieved 2 May 2012 R Brimley Johnson p xii a b Virginia Blain Patricia Clements and Isobel Grundy The Feminist Companion to Literature in English Women Writers from the Middle Ages to the Present London Batsford 1990 p 368 R Brimley Johnson p x R Brimley Johnson p vii Memoir and Correspondence of Susan Ferrier 1782 1854 London J Murray 1898 reprinted 1929 Review of Memoir and Correspondence of Susan Ferrier edited by John A Doyle The Academy and Literature 56 1396 152 153 4 February 1899 Susan Ferrier 1782 1854 Edinburgh National Library of Scotland 1982 ISBN 0 902220 55 1 Entry for Susan Ferrier in The Cambridge Guide to Women s Writing in English Cambridge UK Cambridge UP 1999 accessed through Credo Retrieved 2 May 2012 E g in the Oxford English Novels series in 1971 ISBN 0 19 255349 6 later reprinted as a World s Classics paperback ISBN 0 19 282524 0 The Cambridge History of English and American Literature Cambridge UP G P Putnam s Sons Cambridge UK New York 1907 21 Vol XII Ch XI 1 Retrieved 2 May 2012 Thorpe Vanessa 30 December 2017 Resurrection woman crime writer revives reputation of the Scottish Jane Austen The Observer ISSN 0029 7712 Retrieved 30 December 2017 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Cousin John William 1910 A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature London J M Dent amp Sons via Wikisource Further reading editJoe Herkes Susan Ferrier Shy Satirist in Lindsay Maurice ed The Scottish Review Arts and Environment 28 November 1982 pp 37 40 ISSN 0140 0894 Val McDermid 2017 Introduction to Marriage Virago Modern Classics pp vii xi ISBN 9780349011219External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Susan Edmonstone Ferrier A critical treatment Victoria Chance The Romantic Novels of Susan Edmonstone Ferrier Lambert Academic Publishing 2009 ISBN 978 3 8383 0852 4 A short bibliography Retrieved 2 May 2012 A silhouette of Susan Ferrier from about 1830 done by Augustin Edouart Retrieved 2 May 2012 Works by Susan Ferrier at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Susan Edmonstone Ferrier at Internet Archive Works by Susan Edmonstone Ferrier at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Susan Edmonstone Ferrier amp oldid 1176630852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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