Anne Evans (poet) facts for kids
Anne Evans (born June 4, 1820 – died 1870) was an English poet and composer. People described her as a "witty poet" and a "skilled composer of dance songs." Her book, Poems and Music, was published after she died in 1880.
Her Early Life and Family
Anne Evans was born on June 4, 1820. She was the oldest daughter of Arthur Benoni Evans and Ann Norman. Her father was a well-known expert in languages and coins (a numismatist). He taught history and classic subjects at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Anne's grandfather, Lewis Evans, was a mathematician and astronomer from Wales. Anne's brother, Sebastian Evans, also wrote poetry.
Her family first lived in Britwell, then moved to Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, in 1829. There, her father became the headmaster of Dixie Grammar School. Anne was taught at home.
After her father passed away in 1854, Anne moved to London. She lived at 16 Kensington Square. In the 1850s, she worked as a companion for the two daughters of the famous writer William Makepeace Thackeray. One of these daughters, Anne Thackeray Ritchie, later became a novelist herself.
Anne Evans never married. Her health became poor in 1867, and she was sick until she died on February 19, 1870. Her mother lived until 1883, reaching 91 years old.
Anne's Poems and Music
Anne Evans's oldest known poem is called "Flora's Lesson." She believed in writing poetry that showed strong feelings. She once said, "If anyone expects to find poetry without susceptibility, let him look at the sky for a rainbow without rain." This means you can't have beautiful poetry without deep emotion, just like you can't have a rainbow without rain.
Her writings included:
- Sonnets (a type of 14-line poem)
- A play in verse called Maurice Clifton
- Two long story-poems (ballads) named "Sir Ralph Duguay" and "Orinda"
Anne was also known for her clever sayings (epigrams) and funny definitions. Her work was finally published in 1880 in a book titled Poems and Music. This book included a special introduction written by Anne Thackeray Ritchie. In it, Ritchie described Anne Evans as a "diffident woman" (meaning shy or modest) who "unconsciously touched and influenced us all by her intense sincerity of heart and purpose." This shows how Anne's honest and true nature made a big impact on those around her.
