Elizabeth Blower facts for kids

Elizabeth Blower (born around 1757 or 1763, died after 1816) was an English poet, novelist, and actress. Her early writings often talked about politics, elections, and how people judged books. But her last two novels were mostly about strong feelings and emotions.

Her Life Story

Elizabeth Blower was born in Worcester, England. This city was known for election troubles back then. Her father once supported a candidate who did not win an election.

A writer named William Hayley wrote a letter saying that Elizabeth started writing when her family faced hard times. She and her younger sister worked as actresses in Ireland for five years. They also acted in London in 1787 and 1788. We do not know much more about her family or personal life. However, William Hayley also wrote that she lived in London for a while, helped by the sculptor John Flaxman.

Her Books and Poems

Elizabeth Blower wrote four novels and some poetry when she was between 17 and 25 years old. At first, she published them without her name. In 1788, she was listed in a book called Catalogue of Five Hundred Celebrated Authors of Great Britain, Now Living.

Her first novel, The Parsonage House (1780), was a story told through letters. It made fun of popular story styles of that time. Two years later, she published some poems and her second novel, George Bateman (1782). This book gives a clear picture of election campaigning. It even has some characters speaking in a local accent. People liked this novel, and it was later made into a play. The book also includes a lively chat between characters about Frances Burney's novel Evelina, which was also told through letters and had just come out.

Her third novel, Maria (1785), tells the story of a young orphan girl. She goes through many challenges before having a proper marriage. Her last novel, Features from Life, or a Summer Visit (1788), is full of strong emotions. It starts with a wife making a big sacrifice for her husband. Then she faces hardship and loses her husband, leaving her in deep sadness.

Both of these later novels show Elizabeth Blower's skill. She was good at writing funny stories about society and how people behaved. Another critic said Features from Life was a very real, but perhaps uncomfortable, look into someone's mind.