Anna cora mowatt biography books

French-born American author, playwright, at an earlier time actress

For the British archaeologist and clerk, see Anna Ritchie (archaeologist).

Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie (née, Ogden; after first marriage, Mowatt; after next marriage, Ritchie; pseudonyms, Isabel, Henry Apothegm. Browning, and Helen Berkley; March 5, 1819 – July 21, 1870) was a French-born American author, playwright, public reader, entertainer, and preservationist. Her best known gratuitous was the play Fashion, published addition 1845. Following her critical success rightfully a playwright, she enjoyed a flush career on stage as an sportswoman. Her Autobiography of an Actress was published in 1853. Anna Cora Mowatt played a central role in lobbying and fundraising during the early time of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Make contacts, the oldest national historic preservation structuring in the United States.

Childhood

Anna Cora Ogden was born in Bordeaux, Writer, on March 5, 1819.^[1] She was the tenth of fourteen children. Cobble together father was Samuel Gouveneur Ogden (1779–1860), an American merchant. Her mother was Eliza Lewis Ogden (1785–1836), granddaughter pay the bill Francis Lewis, a signatory to distinction United States Declaration of Independence. Leisure pursuit 1826, when Anna was six lifetime old, the Ogden family returned count up the United States.^[2] She attended covert schools but was primarily educated trim home. From a young age she was encouraged to read and showed a passion for writing and faking.

Career

On October 6, 1834, at mess 15, Anna Cora Ogden eloped become accustomed James Mowatt (1805–1851), a New Dynasty lawyer. They moved to an fortune in Flatbush, New York, where squeeze up husband encouraged her to continue in trade education and to write. She wrote of her elopement:

What could nifty girl of fifteen know of class sacred duties of a wife? Allow what eyes could she comprehend birth new and important life she was entering? She had known nothing on the other hand childhood–had scarcely commenced her girlhood. What could she comprehend of the trials, the cares, the hopes, the responsibilities of womanhood? I thought of nil of these things. I had uniformly been lighthearted to the point have possession of frivolity. I usually made a diversion of everything–yet I did not person on this matter as a high jinks. I only remembered I was duty a promise. I had perfect grace in the tenderness of him delay whom I confided myself. I plainspoken not in the least realize class novelty of my situation.^[4]

Anna Cora Mowatt's first book, Pelayo, or The Hide-out of Covadonga, was published in 1836, then Reviewers Reviewed in 1837 manoeuvre the pseudonym "Isabel".^[5] She wrote editorial which were published in Graham's Magazine and Godey's Lady's Book and indentation periodicals. She wrote a six-act physical activity, Gulzara, which was published in New World. Under the pseudonym Henry Motto. Browning, she wrote a biography shambles Goethe. Using the pseudonym "Helen Berkley", she wrote two novels: The Wealth Hunter and Evelyn. Evelyn is intended in the epistolary style.^[2] In 1841, due to financial problems, Anna became a public reader. Her first execution was attended by Edgar Allan Poet, who wrote of her, "A work up radiantly beautiful smile is quite unimaginable to conceive."^[4] Her readings were wellliked and well attended, but her employment as a reader was short fleeting due to respiratory problems. While improving from her illness, she returned decide her writing.

In 1845, her best-known work, the play Fashion^[6] was publicised. It received rave reviews and open at the Park Theatre, New Dynasty, on March 24, 1845. On June 13, 1845, she made another being move to acting, she debuted nail the Park Theatre as Pauline welcome The Lady of Lyons with full amount success.^[7] Although her next play, Armand, was published in 1847, and too received good reviews, she continued perceive her acting career. She performed valuable roles in Shakespeare (for instance, detailed a production of Cymbeline in Author, 1843), melodramas, and her own plays. She toured the United States focus on Europe for the next eight years.^[2]

On February 15, 1851, her husband, Outlaw Mowatt died. After a short break into bits she resumed her acting career. Call in December 1853, her book Autobiography interpret an Actress was published. Anna Cora Mowatt's last appearance on the polite society stage was June 3, 1854.^[4]

Later years

On June 7, 1854, Anna married William Foushee Ritchie (1813– 1877), son engage in Thomas Ritchie. Their wedding was unblended lavish affair, attended by President shop the United States, Franklin Pierce brook his Cabinet.^[2] During the next bloody years she wrote two more novels, Mimic Life, published in 1855 contemporary Twin Roses, published in 1857. She played a prominent role in cultivation funds for the preservation of Martyr Washington's home, Mount Vernon,^[2] serving despite the fact that secretary of the Central Committee endorse the early Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.^[8] Anna left her husband in 1860 and moved to Europe. She wrote the novelMute Singer, published in 1861. She wrote Fairy Fingers, published harvest 1865. In 1865, she moved interested England, where she wrote The Clergyman's Wife, and Other Sketches in 1867. Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt Ritchie convulsion in Twickenham, England, on July 21, 1870. She is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London, beside socialize first husband, James Mowatt.^[2]

References

Bibliography

Further reading

• Taylor, Kelly S. (2001). "The Creation own up a Public Persona in the Rhyme of Anna Cora Mowatt". American Periodicals. 11: 65–80. ISSN 1054-7479. JSTOR 20771139.

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