Penelope Aubin facts for kids

Penelope Aubin (born around 1679, died 1738?) was an English writer. She wrote novels, poems, and translated books from French. Aubin published her first poems in 1707. She then started writing novels in 1721. In the 1720s, she translated many French books. In 1729, she gave public speeches about right and wrong, and about politics. She even wrote a play in 1730.

Aubin passed away in April 1738. Her husband lived until April 1740. After her death, her writings were collected. They were published as A Collection of Entertaining Histories and Novels, Designed to Promote the Cause of Virtue and Honor. Her books were popular for a long time. Some were even copied by others. Her works were also published in different countries. Today, experts are learning more about Penelope Aubin. They are studying her life and her many books.

Her Early Life

Penelope Aubin's exact birth date is not known. She was the daughter of Sir Richard Temple and Anne Charleton. She was likely born in London around 1679. Some people used to think she was Catholic. But new research shows her family was English and Anglican. Her mother, Anne, was the daughter of Walter Charleton. He was a doctor and a scientist.

In 1696, Aubin married Abraham Aubin. They did not get permission from their parents. They had three children: Marie, Abraham, and Penelope. Sadly, none of their children lived longer than their parents. Penelope Aubin managed the family business. Her husband was a merchant. He fought in Queen Anne's wars. He even described his military life in Aubin's obituary in 1738.

Aubin was once asked to help a man named John Breholt. He had been a pirate. He wanted to bring back people who had been pirates from Madagascar. He also wanted to bring their money back to England. Aubin refused to help him. In 1709, she gave a statement to a government group. Her statements helped stop Breholt's plans.

Her Amazing Books and Poems

Penelope Aubin wrote many different kinds of works. She wrote poems, novels, and translated books. Her stories often taught lessons about being good.

Poetry

Aubin started her writing career with poetry. She wrote poems about important people and events.

• The Stuarts : A Pindarique Ode (1707)
• The Extasy: A Pindarick Ode to Her Majesty The Queen (1708)
• The Wellcome : A Poem to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough (1708)

Novels and Stories

Aubin became well-known for her novels. These were often called "histories" back then. They were exciting stories with moral lessons.

Title page for The Strange Adventures of the Count de Vinevil

• The Strange Adventures of the Count de Vinevil and His Family (1721)
• The Life of Madam de Beaumount, a French Lady (1721)
• The Life and Amorous Adventures of Lucinda (1721)
• The Noble Slaves: Or the Lives and Adventures of Two Lords and Two Ladies (1722)
• The Life of Charlotta Du Pont, an English lady; taken from her own memoirs (1723). Online edition at www.chawton.org and PDF
• The Life and Adventures of the Lady Lucy (1726)
• The Life and Adventures of The Young Count Albertus, The Son of Count Lewis Augustus, by the Lady Lucy (1728)
• The Merry Masqueraders; or The Humorous ... (1732)
• A Collection of Entertaining Histories and Novels, Designed to Promote the Cause of Virtue and Honor (1739)
• The Inhuman Stepmother, or the History of Miss Harriot Montague (1770 edition available as a PDF from Chawton House)

Translations and Other Works

Penelope Aubin also translated several books from French. This helped English readers enjoy stories from other countries.

• The Doctrine of Morality (1721). This was a translation by T.M. Gibbs of M. De Gomberville's work. It was published again in 1726 as Moral Virtue Delineated.
• The Adventures of the Prince of Clermont, and Madam De Ravezan (1722). This was a translation of a book by Mme Gillot De Beaucour.
  • A modern version was edited by Anne de Sola in 2003: ISBN: 0-7734-6610-X
• History of Genghizcan the Great (1722). This was a translation of a book by M. François Pétis de la Croix.
• The Illustrious French Lovers (1726). This was a translation of Les Illustres Françaises by Robert Challe.
  • A modern version was edited by Anna de Sola in 2000: ISBN: 0-7734-7701-2
• The Life of the Countess de Gondez (1729). This was another translation.