Jane Harvey (writer) facts for kids
Jane Harvey (born in 1771, died in 1848) was a talented writer from Tyneside, England. She wrote many different kinds of books, including both exciting stories and factual works. Sometimes, she even published her writing without her name on it! Jane Harvey is most famous for her romantic novels, which were very popular in her time.
About Jane Harvey
Jane Harvey was likely born in 1771. She was baptized in Gateshead on July 8, 1771. We know her parents were either Elizabeth and Lawrence Harvey from Barnard Castle, or William and Jane Harvey.
Her Early Writings
In 1794, Jane Harvey wrote a book called A Sentimental Tour through Newcastle. It was a guide to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. She published it by asking people to pay for it in advance. This book also shared her thoughts on different topics happening in society.
A few years later, in 1797, she released a book of poems called Poems on Various Subjects. This collection included a poem she wrote when she was just 15 years old! It also featured poems praising other famous writers of her time, like Anna Seward and Charlotte Smith. She even wrote about her own childhood memories.
Famous Novels and Later Works
Jane Harvey continued to write poetry and Hymns throughout her life. However, she is best known for her romantic novels. One of her most famous was The Castle of Tynemouth, published in 1806. Her books were read by many people and were found in many private book collections and libraries back then.
Not all reviews of her books were positive. For example, a review for her novel The Governor of Belleville said it was too long. It also mentioned that while the story idea was clever, the characters weren't developed very well.
Her last known book was Fugitive Pieces, published in 1841. This book was a mix of beautiful poetry and strong opinions. It showed her support for striking workers called Keelmen. These were people who worked on boats carrying coal. She also wrote about the unfair treatment of female tailors.
Her Life and Legacy
We don't know a lot about Jane Harvey's daily life. However, newspaper articles written after her death suggest she ran a "circulating library" in Tynemouth for many years. A circulating library was a place where people could borrow books for a fee.
Jane Harvey passed away on March 4, 1848. She was buried two days later in Newcastle's general cemetery, Jesmond.
