Alicia Le Fanu facts for kids

Alicia Le Fanu (born in 1791, died on January 29, 1867) was an Irish poet and writer. She was known for her poems and historical stories.

Who Was Alicia Le Fanu?

Alicia Le Fanu came from a very creative family. Her mother was Betsy Sheridan, and her father was Captain Henry Le Fanu. Her grandparents were the famous actor Thomas Sheridan and the talented writer Frances Sheridan. Alicia also had a younger sister named Harriet.

Early Life and Family

Alicia's family moved a few times when she was young. They lived in Dublin, Ireland, then moved to Kingsbridge, Devon, and later to Bath, England. Her mother, Betsy, often wrote letters talking about Alicia's growing writing skills. Betsy believed Alicia's talent was "much better" than her own. She really encouraged Alicia to write and made sure their home library had many interesting and educational books for her.

A Budding Writer

Alicia started publishing her own writings in 1809. This was the beginning of her career as an author. Around 1822, she moved to Leamington Spa with her mother. This move happened after her father and sister had passed away.

Her Later Years

For a long time, people weren't sure exactly when Alicia Le Fanu died. Some thought it was as early as 1826, while others believed it was after 1844. We know she was alive in 1844 because she received some money from the Royal Bounty Fund, which was a special fund to help people. Her cousin, Caroline Norton, helped her get this money. Later, it was discovered that Alicia passed away on January 29, 1867, from an illness while living with a family in Chipping Norton.

What She Wrote

Alicia Le Fanu wrote different kinds of stories. Her poems were often "moralistic fables." This means they were like short stories that taught a lesson about right and wrong. She also wrote historical romances. These were exciting stories set in the past, often with lots of drama, but sometimes they also had funny parts or a bit of satire (making fun of things).

In 1824, she wrote a book called Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Mrs Frances Sheridan. This book was about her grandmother's life. However, it's believed that some of the facts in this book might not be completely accurate.