| Lucy Aikin | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6 1781 Warrington, England |
| Died | January 29 1864 (aged 82) Hampstead, England, |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | English |
Lucy Aikin (November 6, 1781- January 29, 1864), daughter of John Aikin and niece of Anna Letitia Barbauld, born at Warrington, England, had some repute as a historical writer. Miss Aikin, by all accounts, was born to a literary family and was a prolific female writer herself. Her father, Dr. John Aikin, was a medical doctor, historian, and author, and her aunt Mrs. Barbauld was also an author and early critic of the education system. Lucy was educated under their tutelage, and "read widely in English, French, Italian, and Latin literature and history"[1]. Lucy began writing for magazines at the age of seventeen[2], and at an early age assisted her father as an editor in his writings as well [3]. Lucy was interested in early education, and as such published several works to assist young readers: Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory (1801), Juvenile Correspondence or Letters, Designed as Examples of the Epistolary Style, for Children of Both Sexes (1811), An English Lesson Book, for the Junior Classes (1828), and The Acts of Life: of Providing Food, of Providing Clothing, of Providing Shelter (1858). Ms. Aikin also was responsible for translating the French texts: Louis Francois Jauffret’s The Travels of Rolando (publication appears to be around 1804), and Jean Gaspard Hess’ The Life of Ulrich Zwingli (1812). She also was responsible for two creative works: Epistles on Women, Exemplifying their Character and Condition in Various Ages and Nations, with Miscellaneous Poems (1810), and her only work of fiction Lorimer, a Tale (1814). She also was well-remembered for her biographical works: Memoir of John Aikin, MD (1823), The Works of Anna Laetita Barbauld (1825), The Life of Anne Boleyn (1827), and The Life of Joseph Addison (1843). However, as the memoirs about her and obituaries are quick to point out, she was probably most famous for her historical works: Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth (1818), Memoirs of the Court of James I (1822), and Memoirs of the Court of Charles I (1833). Under the pseudonym Mary Godolphin, Lucy Aikin is also attributed for producing versions of:Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Aesop's Fables, Evenings at Home, and Sandford and Merton, "in Words of One Syllable". She was remarkable for her conversational powers, and was also an admirable letter-writer. Like the rest of her family she was a Unitarian. Miss Aikin died at Hampstead, England, where she had lived for forty years.
Contents |
Chronological list of publications
1801 Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory
1804 Louis Francois Jauffret’s The Travels of Rolando (translation from French)
1810 Epistles on Women, Exemplifying their Character and Condition in Various Ages and Nations, with Miscellaneous Poems
1811 Juvenile Correspondence or Letters, Designed as Examples of the Epistolary Style, for Children of Both Sexes
1812 Jean Gaspard Hess’ The Life of Ulrich Zwingli (translation from French)
1814 Lorimer, a Tale
1818 Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth
1822 Memoirs of the Court of James I
1823 Memoir of John Aikin, MD
1825 The Works of Anna Laetita Barbauld
1827 The Life of Anne Boleyn
1828 An English Lesson Book, for the Junior Classes
1833 Memoirs of the Court of Charles I
1843 The Life of Joseph Addison
1858 The Acts of Life: of Providing Food, of Providing Clothing, of Providing Shelter
1858 Holiday Stories for Young Readers
Works attributed to her as Mary Godolphin
1867 Robinson Crusoe: In Words of One Syllable
1868 Sandford and Merton: In Words of One Syllable
1868 An Evening at Home: In Words of One Syllable
1869 Aesop's Fables: In Words of One Syllable
1869 The Pilgrim's Progress: In Words of One Syllable
1869 The Swiss Family Robinson: In Words of One Syllable
1870 The One Syllable Sunday Book
References
- See a Memoir of John Aikin, with selections of his miscellaneous pieces (1823); and the Memoirs, Miscellanies and Letters of Lucy Aikin (1864), including her correspondence (1826-1842) with William Ellery Channing, edited by P. H. Le Breton.
- Turzynski, Linda J. "Lucy Aikin." Dictionary of Literary Biography: British Children's Writers, 1800-1880. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc, 1996.
- This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J.M. Dent & sons; New York, E.P. Dutton.
- ^ See Barbara Brandon Schnorrenberg's entry "Aikin, Lucy (1781-1864)" in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ Schnorrenberg (again)
- ^ See: A First Sketch of English Literature, page 941
External links
- Works by Lucy Aikin at Project Gutenberg
- "Mary Godolphin", books.
