Eliza Parsons facts for kids

Eliza Parsons (born Phelp) was an English writer. She lived from 1739 to 1811. She was famous for writing "Gothic novels." These are stories that often involve mystery, suspense, and sometimes spooky old castles. Her most well-known books were The Castle of Wolfenbach (1793) and The Mysterious Warning (1796). These two books were even mentioned in Northanger Abbey, a famous novel by Jane Austen.

Life of Eliza Parsons

Eliza Parsons was born in 1739 in Plymouth, Devon, England. Her baptism was on April 4, 1739. She was the only daughter of John Phelp, who was a wine merchant. Her family was quite well-off. Eliza received a good education for a young woman in the 1700s.

In 1760, when she was about 21, Eliza married James Parsons. He was a turpentine distiller from a nearby town. They had a large family together: three sons and five daughters.

Around 1778, the Parsons family moved to London. This happened because Mr. Parsons's turpentine business was struggling. This was partly due to the American War of Independence. He invested his last money into the business. For a few years, their lives improved.

However, in 1782, a terrible fire broke out. It destroyed everything Mr. Parsons owned. After this, he found a job in the Lord Chamberlain's office.

The family faced many sad times. Their oldest son died in Jamaica while serving in the military. Mr. Parsons also became very ill. He suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed. He lived for three more years before a second stroke caused his death in 1797. Eliza's second son also died while in the military. Later, she lost one of her daughters and her youngest son.

With her husband gone and many children lost, Eliza had to find a way to support her remaining family. She decided to become a writer. Between 1790 and 1807, she wrote 19 novels and one play. These works filled 60 books in total.

Even with all her writing, Eliza often struggled with money. She received some financial help from the Royal Literary Fund. She also worked at the Royal Wardrobe. Eliza Parsons passed away on February 5, 1811, in Leytonstone, Essex. She was 72 years old and was survived by four married daughters.

Gothic Novels and Eliza Parsons

This is the front page of The Mysterious Warning from 1796.

Eliza Parsons started writing Gothic novels because they were very popular. Gothic stories often include mystery, suspense, old castles, and sometimes a bit of fright. Some people thought her books were not very well-written. They said her stories seemed a bit messy.

Parsons was a very religious Protestant. She believed that good people should be rewarded and bad people punished. This belief often showed up in her stories. Her first novel, The History of Miss Meredith, came out in 1790. This was the same year her husband died.

Her more famous book, The Castle of Wolfenbach, was published in 1793. At this time, people in England were starting to question arranged marriages. The Castle of Wolfenbach explores this idea. It also shows the importance of a strong family and respect for the middle class. Other books she wrote include Women as They Are (1797) and The Valley of Saint Gotthard (1799).

Eliza Parsons's female characters often showed traits common in "female Gothic" writing. For example, a heroine might pretend to be helpless. This would allow her to cleverly gain an inheritance.

Two of Parsons's novels are very well-known. These are The Castle of Wolfenbach and The Mysterious Warning (1796). They are among the "horrid romances" mentioned in Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey. For a long time, people thought these book titles were made up. But in 1912, it was discovered that they were real books!

Some critics have noted that Jane Austen chose Parsons's books to mention. She did not pick books by other famous Gothic writers like Ann Radcliffe. Many of Parsons's novels had introductions. In these, she would often ask readers for sympathy. She would also try to excuse any lack of writing skill. Critics often found the happy endings in The Castle of Wolfenbach and The Mysterious Warning to be too simple and convenient.

Eliza Parsons's Books