The fair triumvirate of wit facts for kids

The fair triumvirate of wit refers to three very important women writers from the 1600s and 1700s. These writers were Eliza Haywood, Delarivier Manley, and Aphra Behn. They were known for their cleverness and skill in writing.

What is the Fair Triumvirate of Wit?

The term "fair triumvirate of wit" was first used by a poet and critic named Rev. James Sterling. He wrote about them in a special poem for Eliza Haywood's book, Secret Histories, Novels, and Poems. This term showed that these three women were considered the most important and influential female writers of their time.

Sterling's poem recognized their great talent. He even suggested that when Eliza Haywood wrote, she completed this amazing group of clever writers. His words were:

Pathetic Behn, or Manley's greater Name;
Forget their Sex, and own when Haywood writ,
She clos'd the Fair triumvirate of Wit.

This means he saw Haywood as a powerful writer, just like Behn and Manley.

Why Are These Writers Important?

These three women wrote many different things, including plays, poems, novels, and essays. For a long time, their work was not as well-known as it should have been. However, in more recent times, people studying literature have helped bring their amazing writings back into the spotlight. This has shown how important their contributions were to English literature.