Memoirs of Eminent Englishwomen

Biographies of eight notable women who lived in the seventeenth century, compiled using their correspondence, and originally published in 1844.

Louisa Stuart Costello (Author)

9781108019897, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 October 2010

432 pages, 5 b/w illus.
21.6 x 2.4 x 14 cm, 0.55 kg

Louisa Stuart Costello (1799–1870) was a poet and artist who supported her family with her paintings. As well as writing a number of historical novels, Costello researched and wrote the biographies of many prominent women, using their letters and diaries to tell their extraordinary stories. This second volume chronicles the lives of eight women including Lucy Harrington, a literary patron who was a friend of John Donne and a muse to Ben Jonson. Also featured is the life of Frances Howard, who was accused of the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, who she saw as an obstacle to her marriage to Robert Carr, a favourite of King James. She was a public hate figure described as a 'murderous, syphilitic sorceress', and was found guilty of the killing and imprisoned. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=costlo

8. Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia
9. Lucy Harrington, Countess of Bedford
10. Frances Howard, Countess of Somerset
11. Margaret Elizabeth, Countess of Essex
12. Christian, Countess of Devonshire
13. Anne Clifford, Countess of Dorset
14. Mary Evelyn
15. Lady Fanshawe.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]