Description
Book SynopsisThis new biography of Lady Blessington, the first in more than eighty years, illuminates the private and public life of this important but neglected salonnière and author. This study enriches our knowledge of the social, political, and literary history of the post-Romantic and early Victorian era. It examines Lady Blessington’s close friendships with politicians and writers, especially Edward Bulwer Lytton and Benjamin Disraeli. Statesmen, diplomats, writers, and artists were her constant visitors, as they found her friendship and conversation invaluable to their professional and social lives. The circumstances of a life lived in luxury and indulgence changed upon the death of Lady Blessington’s husband, forcing her to support herself and several dependents with her writing. Throughout this biography, Lady Blessington’s voice is evident and should reawaken scholarly and popular interest in her voluminous works. She wrote twenty novels in genres including silver-fork fiction, psychological drama, and verse narrative. She also produced four travel books, many short stories, and numerous poems and edited the popular literary gift annuals Heath’s Book of Beauty and The Keepsake. This book reveals the humanity of a woman whom contemporary gossip considered scandalous because of her alleged relationship with her stepdaughter’s estranged husband, Count D’Orsay. Lady Blessington’s struggle in the face of many challenges is an inspiring story of individual strength. It is a tale of a woman whose legacy of integrity, determination, and sheer hard work provides us with enlarged insights into an era and society often overlooked by history.
Trade ReviewImpeccably researched, Matoff’s biography offers a treasure trove of information and detail. She draws widely on archival sources, including Lady Blessington’s extensive correspondence, and Matoff’s liberal incorporation of quotations from primary source material helps many of the witty, urbane voices in her circle come alive for a reader. Matoff’s treatment of the literary works produced by Lady Blessington is primarily descriptive, but is of great help in understanding the circumstances of their composition, Lady Blessington’s writing process and sentiments about her works, and their critical reception. Because of the genres in which Lady Blessington wrote, many of which have not received wide critical attention, this biography fits well within the recent rise of interest in silver-fork novels and giftbooks and literary annuals. Scholars with interests in these genres will benefit from Matoff’s careful documentation…. By telling readers the story of Lady Blessington’s life and her many impressive accomplishments, Matoff creates an opportunity not only to revisit a specific individual, but also to unpack notions of authorship, celebrity and gender, and how those notions have both shifted and remained constant over time…. [A] meticulous and well-written study. * Women's Writing *
In the words of its author, this new biography of Lady Blessington ‘seeks to place her where she belongs in history -- as an important and influential salonnière; a writer of many works, some of which deserve serious attention; an editor of two of the most popular annuals of her day; and a valued friend and confidante.’… [T]his intention has been realized. In the text and the two Appendices, we have here the most complete identification and description to date of the books, stories, and verse written by Lady Blessington. We also have the most detailed and thorough description yet of the events of her life and the relationships within her parental and marital families. Matoff's book is thus welcome, for there hasn't been a serious full study of any of this material in more than 80 years…. Matoff's biography is very much shaped by what she sees as the tragic arc of Lady Blessington's life, and there is no denying that her social triumph amidst the events of a ‘turbulent life’ makes a fascinating story, well worth telling again. The real scholarly contribution of this study, though, is the detailed account of Lady Blessington's literary career as an editor and author. * Review 19 *
Table of ContentsDedication Epigraph Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Abbreviations Preface Prologue Part I: 1788-1830 Chapter 1 The Transformation Chapter 2 Early Married Life Chapter 3 Direction Genoa Chapter 4 Idling In Naples Chapter 5 Friendship, Scandal and Farewell Chapter 6 Paris: The End of the Beginning Chapter 7 Recovery and Revolution Part II: 1831 – 1839 Chapter 8 A New Beginning in London Chapter 9 Launching into Literature Chapter 10 Adding an Annual Chapter 11 1834, The Year of Literary Lions Chapter 12 Last Days in Seamore Place Chapter 13 Gore House Chapter 14 Confessions and Victims Chapter 15 Struggling On Part III: 1840 And Later Chapter 16 On the Edge of the Slope Chapter 17 Fighting Back Chapter 18 Still Fighting Chapter 19 Sliding Down Chapter 20 Finale Chapter 21 After Effects Chapter 22 Presumptions of Posterity Appendix I Books by Lady Blessington Appendix II Contributions by Lady Blessington to Annuals and Periodicals Bibliography About the Author Index
