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9781611495911

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Impeccably researched, Matoff's biography offers a treasure trove of information and detail. She draws widely on archival sources, including Lady Blessington's extensive correspondence, and Matoff's liberal incorporation of quotations from primary source material helps many of the witty, urbane voices in her circle come alive for a reader. Matoff's treatment of the literary works produced by Lady Blessington is primarily descriptive, but is of great help in understanding the circumstances of their composition, Lady Blessington's writing process and sentiments about her works, and their critical reception. Because of the genres in which Lady Blessington wrote, many of which have not received wide critical attention, this biography fits well within the recent rise of interest in silver-fork novels and giftbooks and literary annuals. Scholars with interests in these genres will benefit from Matoff's careful documentation.... By telling readers the story of Lady Blessington's life and her many impressive accomplishments, Matoff creates an opportunity not only to revisit a specific individual, but also to unpack notions of authorship, celebrity and gender, and how those notions have both shifted and remained constant over time.... [A] meticulous and well-written study. * Women's Writing * In the words of its author, this new biography of Lady Blessington 'seeks to place her where she belongs in history -- as an important and influential salonniere; a writer of many works, some of which deserve serious attention; an editor of two of the most popular annuals of her day; and a valued friend and confidante.'... [T]his intention has been realized. In the text and the two Appendices, we have here the most complete identification and description to date of the books, stories, and verse written by Lady Blessington. We also have the most detailed and thorough description yet of the events of her life and the relationships within her parental and marital families. Matoff's book is thus welcome, for there hasn't been a serious full study of any of this material in more than 80 years.... Matoff's biography is very much shaped by what she sees as the tragic arc of Lady Blessington's life, and there is no denying that her social triumph amidst the events of a 'turbulent life' makes a fascinating story, well worth telling again. The real scholarly contribution of this study, though, is the detailed account of Lady Blessington's literary career as an editor and author. * Review 19 *

Impeccably researched, Matoff's biography offers a treasure trove of information and detail. She draws widely on archival sources, including Lady Blessington's extensive correspondence, and Matoff's liberal incorporation of quotations from primary source material helps many of the witty, urbane voices in her circle come alive for a reader. Matoff's treatment of the literary works produced by Lady Blessington is primarily descriptive, but is of great help in understanding the circumstances of their composition, Lady Blessington's writing process and sentiments about her works, and their critical reception. Because of the genres in which Lady Blessington wrote, many of which have not received wide critical attention, this biography fits well within the recent rise of interest in silver-fork novels and giftbooks and literary annuals. Scholars with interests in these genres will benefit from Matoff's careful documentation... By telling readers the story of Lady Blessington's life and her many impressive accomplishments, Matoff creates an opportunity not only to revisit a specific individual, but also to unpack notions of authorship, celebrity and gender, and how those notions have both shifted and remained constant over time... [A] meticulous and well-written study. Women's Writing In the words of its author, this new biography of Lady Blessington 'seeks to place her where she belongs in history -- as an important and influential salonniere; a writer of many works, some of which deserve serious attention; an editor of two of the most popular annuals of her day; and a valued friend and confidante.'... [T]his intention has been realized. In the text and the two Appendices, we have here the most complete identification and description to date of the books, stories, and verse written by Lady Blessington. We also have the most detailed and thorough description yet of the events of her life and the relationships within her parental and marital families. Matoff's book is thus welcome, for there hasn't been a serious full study of any of this material in more than 80 years... Matoff's biography is very much shaped by what she sees as the tragic arc of Lady Blessington's life, and there is no denying that her social triumph amidst the events of a 'turbulent life' makes a fascinating story, well worth telling again. The real scholarly contribution of this study, though, is the detailed account of Lady Blessington's literary career as an editor and author. Review 19

Impeccably researched, Matoff's biography offers a treasure trove of information and detail. She draws widely on archival sources, including Lady Blessington's extensive correspondence, and Matoff's liberal incorporation of quotations from primary source material helps many of the witty, urbane voices in her circle come alive for a reader. Matoff's treatment of the literary works produced by Lady Blessington is primarily descriptive, but is of great help in understanding the circumstances of their composition, Lady Blessington's writing process and sentiments about her works, and their critical reception. Because of the genres in which Lady Blessington wrote, many of which have not received wide critical attention, this biography fits well within the recent rise of interest in silver-fork novels and giftbooks and literary annuals. Scholars with interests in these genres will benefit from Matoff's careful documentation.... By telling readers the story of Lady Blessington's life and her many impressive accomplishments, Matoff creates an opportunity not only to revisit a specific individual, but also to unpack notions of authorship, celebrity and gender, and how those notions have both shifted and remained constant over time.... [A] meticulous and well-written study. * Women's Writing * In the words of its author, this new biography of Lady Blessington `seeks to place her where she belongs in history -- as an important and influential salonniere; a writer of many works, some of which deserve serious attention; an editor of two of the most popular annuals of her day; and a valued friend and confidante.'... [T]his intention has been realized. In the text and the two Appendices, we have here the most complete identification and description to date of the books, stories, and verse written by Lady Blessington. We also have the most detailed and thorough description yet of the events of her life and the relationships within her parental and marital families. Matoff's book is thus welcome, for there hasn't been a serious full study of any of this material in more than 80 years.... Matoff's biography is very much shaped by what she sees as the tragic arc of Lady Blessington's life, and there is no denying that her social triumph amidst the events of a `turbulent life' makes a fascinating story, well worth telling again. The real scholarly contribution of this study, though, is the detailed account of Lady Blessington's literary career as an editor and author. * Review 19 *

Impeccably researched, Matoff's biography offers a treasure trove of information and detail. She draws widely on archival sources, including Lady Blessington's extensive correspondence, and Matoff's liberal incorporation of quotations from primary source material helps many of the witty, urbane voices in her circle come alive for a reader. Matoff's treatment of the literary works produced by Lady Blessington is primarily descriptive, but is of great help in understanding the circumstances of their composition, Lady Blessington's writing process and sentiments about her works, and their critical reception. Because of the genres in which Lady Blessington wrote, many of which have not received wide critical attention, this biography fits well within the recent rise of interest in silver-fork novels and giftbooks and literary annuals. Scholars with interests in these genres will benefit from Matoff's careful documentation... By telling readers the story of Lady Blessington's life and her many impressive accomplishments, Matoff creates an opportunity not only to revisit a specific individual, but also to unpack notions of authorship, celebrity and gender, and how those notions have both shifted and remained constant over time... [A] meticulous and well-written study. Women's Writing

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Susan Matoff is an independent scholar.

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