Elizabeth Gunning (translator) facts for kids
Elizabeth Gunning was a talented writer and translator from the late 1700s and early 1800s. She was known for turning French books into English and for writing many popular novels.
About Elizabeth Gunning
Elizabeth Gunning was born in 1769. Her father was John Gunning, a soldier. Her mother, Susannah Gunning, was also a writer.
In 1803, Elizabeth married Major James Plunkett. He was from a place called Kinnaird in County Roscommon, Ireland. They had a son named James, who was sometimes called "Gunning" Plunkett. They also had another son, George Argyle Plunkett, who became a doctor in Brooklyn, New York.
Elizabeth Gunning passed away on July 20, 1823. She had been ill for a long time. She died in a town called Long Melford in Suffolk, England.
Elizabeth Gunning's Books
Elizabeth Gunning was very busy writing and translating. She helped English readers enjoy books that were originally written in French.
French Translations
Here are some of the books she translated from French into English:
- Memoirs of Madame de Barneveldt: This book came out in 1795. A beautiful picture of Elizabeth Gunning was added to the second edition.
- The Wife with two Husbands: This was a play she translated in 1803. It was a "tragi-comedy," meaning it had both sad and funny parts.
- Plurality of Worlds by Fontenelle: She translated this book in 1808.
- Malvina by Madame Cottin: Elizabeth Gunning translated this book, and its second edition came out in 1810.
Her Novels
Elizabeth Gunning also wrote many of her own stories. Here are some of her novels:
- The Packet (1794)
- Lord Fitzhenry (1794)
- The Foresters (1796)
- The Orphans of Snowdon (1797)
- The Gipsey Countess (1799)
- The Village Library (1802)
- The Farmer's Boy (1802)
- Family Stories; or Evenings at my Grandmother's (1802)
- A Sequel to Family Stories (1802)
- The Exile of Erin (1808)
- The Man of Fashion: a Tale of Modern Times (1815)
