Catherine Maria Fanshawe facts for kids
Catherine Maria Fanshawe (1765–1834) was an English poet whose writing was admired by famous author Walter Scott. She and her sisters were also talented artists.
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Maria Fanshawe
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| Born | 6 July 1765  |
| Died | 17 April 1834 (aged 68) |
| Occupation | Poet, writer |
Contents
About Catherine Maria Fanshawe
Catherine Maria Fanshawe was born in 1765 at Shabden, a place in Chipstead, Surrey, England. Her father, John Fanshawe, was a landowner from Surrey. He also worked for King George III, who was the King of Great Britain at the time. Her mother's name was Penelope.
Life and Travels
After her father passed away in 1816, Catherine and her two sisters inherited his property. They lived in London at 15 Berkeley Square. They also had a home in Richmond, Surrey. Because they often had poor health, they traveled to Italy.
Catherine Fanshawe died on 17 April 1834, after being ill for a long time. She was 68 years old.
Catherine Fanshawe's Creative Work
Catherine Fanshawe wrote clever poems, especially a type called "occasional verse." These poems were often written for specific events or moments. Her style was similar to the "Romantic school" of poetry, which focused on emotions and nature.
Published Poems and Descriptions
Some of her poems were printed in books by other writers like Joanna Baillie and Mary Russell Mitford. This happened in 1823 and 1859. Later, her poems were collected and published together in 1865 and 1876.
Mary Russell Mitford said that Catherine was "admirable" at writing letters. She also praised Catherine's ability to read Shakespeare and create designs in many different styles. Catherine's poems are known for being witty and sometimes using irony. This means she would often say the opposite of what she really meant, especially when making fun of political ideas she didn't agree with.
Famous Riddle and Other Works
Catherine Fanshawe's most famous poem is a riddle about the letter "H." It starts with the line, "'Twas whispered in heaven and 'twas muttered in hell." This riddle was so popular that people often thought the famous poet Lord Byron wrote it! Another one of her poems, "Fragment in Imitation of Wordsworth," is included in a well-known collection of parodies called the Oxford Book of Parodies.
The famous Scottish writer Walter Scott greatly admired Catherine's poetry, calling it "quite beautiful." He also mentioned that Catherine and her sisters were the first to publish the Memoirs of Ann, Lady Fanshawe (1625–1680). These memoirs told the story of Lady Fanshawe's life up to 1672 and were finished in 1676. Catherine and her sisters published them in 1829.
