Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford
Encyclopedia
Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (April 3, 1835–August 14, 1921) was a notable American writer remembered for her novels, poems and detective stories.
, in 1849 she moved with her parents to Newburyport, Massachusetts
, which was ever after her home, though has spent many of her winters in Boston
and Washington, D.C.
She attended the Putnam Free School in Newburyport, and Pinkerton Academy
in Derry, New Hampshire
from 1853 to 1855. At Newburyport her prize essay on Hamlet
drew the attention of Thomas Wentworth Higginson
, who soon became her friend, and gave her counsel and encouragement.
When her parents became sick, of necessity she set to work as a writer, sometimes laboring fifteen hours a day. She contributed to Boston story papers for small pay. In 1859, she submitted to Atlantic Monthly a story about Parisian life entitled “In a Cellar.” The magazine's editor, James Russell Lowell
, at first believed the story to be a translation, and withheld it from publication. Reassured that it was original, he published it, and it established her reputation. She became a welcome contributor to the chief periodicals of the United States, both of prose and poetry.
Spofford's fiction had very little in common with what was regarded as representative of the New England mind. Her gothic romances were set apart by luxuriant descriptions, and an unconventional handling of female stereotype
s of the day. Her writing was ideal, intense in feeling. In her descriptions and fancies, she reveled in sensuous delights and every variety of splendor.
In 1865, she married Richard S. Spofford, a Boston lawyer, and they resided on Deer Island overlooking the Merrimack River
at Amesbury
, a suburb of Newburyport, where she died.
When Higginson asked Emily Dickinson
whether she had read Spofford's work “Circumstance,” Dickinson replied, “I read Miss Prescott's ‘Circumstance
,’ but it followed me in the dark, so I avoided her.”
Biography
Born in Calais, MaineCalais, Maine
Calais is a city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The city has three United States border crossings or also known as a Port of entry with the busiest being on the St. Croix River bordering St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada...
, in 1849 she moved with her parents to Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
, which was ever after her home, though has spent many of her winters in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
She attended the Putnam Free School in Newburyport, and Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy
Pinkerton Academy is a secondary school in Derry, New Hampshire. It is the largest independent academy in the United States, serving roughly 3,600 students as the high school for the communities of Derry, Hampstead, Chester and sometimes Auburn...
in Derry, New Hampshire
Derry, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 33,109 people, 12,537 households, and 8,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 924.8 people per square mile . There were 13,277 housing units at an average density of 143.2/km²...
from 1853 to 1855. At Newburyport her prize essay on Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
drew the attention of Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Thomas Wentworth Higginson was an American Unitarian minister, author, abolitionist, and soldier. He was active in the American Abolitionism movement during the 1840s and 1850s, identifying himself with disunion and militant abolitionism...
, who soon became her friend, and gave her counsel and encouragement.
When her parents became sick, of necessity she set to work as a writer, sometimes laboring fifteen hours a day. She contributed to Boston story papers for small pay. In 1859, she submitted to Atlantic Monthly a story about Parisian life entitled “In a Cellar.” The magazine's editor, James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets who rivaled the popularity of British poets...
, at first believed the story to be a translation, and withheld it from publication. Reassured that it was original, he published it, and it established her reputation. She became a welcome contributor to the chief periodicals of the United States, both of prose and poetry.
Spofford's fiction had very little in common with what was regarded as representative of the New England mind. Her gothic romances were set apart by luxuriant descriptions, and an unconventional handling of female stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s of the day. Her writing was ideal, intense in feeling. In her descriptions and fancies, she reveled in sensuous delights and every variety of splendor.
In 1865, she married Richard S. Spofford, a Boston lawyer, and they resided on Deer Island overlooking the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
at Amesbury
Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Though it officially became a city in 1996, its formal name remains "The Town of Amesbury." In 1890, 9798 people lived in Amesbury; in 1900, 9473; in 1910, 9894; in 1920, 10,036; and in 1940, 10,862. The population was 16,283 at...
, a suburb of Newburyport, where she died.
When Higginson asked Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
whether she had read Spofford's work “Circumstance,” Dickinson replied, “I read Miss Prescott's ‘Circumstance
Circumstance (short story)
"Circumstance" is an allegorical short story written by American author Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford as a periodical in The Atlantic Monthly in 1860. The story takes place in the woods of Maine following an unnamed protagonist who travels to return to home after caring for a sick neighbor...
,’ but it followed me in the dark, so I avoided her.”
Books
- Sir Rohan's Ghost, 1860
- The Amber Gods, and Other Stories, 1863, republished 1989
- Azarian: An Episode, 1864
- New England Legends, 1871
- The Thief in the Night, 1872
- Art Decoration Applied to Furniture, 1878
- The Servant Girl Question, 1881
- Marquis of Carabas, 1882
- Poems, 1882
- Hester Stanley at St. Mark's, 1883
- Ballads About Authors, 1887
- A Scarlet Poppy, and Other Stories, 1894
- Old Madame, and Other Tragedies, 1900
- The Ray of Displacement and other stories, 1903
- Old Washington, 1906
- The Fairy Changeling, 1910
- A Little Book of Friends, 1916
- The Elder's People, 1920
Further reading
- "The Amber Gods," and Other Stories, edited with an introduction by Alfred Bendixen. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1989.
- Different works of hers at Project Gutenberg Australia: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0606581.txt
- The Moonstone Mass and Others edited by Jessica Amanda SalmonsonJessica Amanda SalmonsonJessica Amanda Salmonson, born January 6, 1950, is an author, editor and writer of fantasy and horror fiction.-Author:Salmonson is the author of the Tomoe Gozen trilogy, a fantasy version of the tale of the historical female samurai Tomoe Gozen...
(Ash-Tree Press, 2000) a selection of Spofford's best ghost stories with an informative introduction by Salmonson.