Lucy Aikin
Encyclopedia
Lucy Aikin born at Warrington, England into a distinguished literary family of prominent Unitarian
s, was a historical writer.
. Lucy's father, Dr. John Aikin
, was a medical doctor, historian, and author. Her grandfather, also called John Aikin
(1713–1780), was a Unitarian scholar and theological tutor, closely associated with Warrington Academy
. Lucy's brother was Arthur Aikin
(1773–1854), chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer.
Lucy was educated by her father and her aunt, an early critic of the education system. She "read widely in English, French, Italian, and Latin literature and history", and began writing for magazines at the age of seventeen, and at an early age assisted her father as an editor in his writings as well.
Aikin also was responsible for translating the French texts: Louis Francois Jauffret’s The Travels of Rolando (publication appears to be around 1804), and Jean Gaspard Hess’s The Life of Ulrich Zwingli (1812), a life of the leader of the Reformation in Switzerland
. She also was responsible for two creative works: Epistles on Women, Exemplifying their Character and Condition in Various Ages and Nations, with Miscellaneous Poems (1810), and her only work of fiction, Lorimer, a Tale (1814). She also was well-remembered for her biographical works: Memoir of John Aikin, MD (1823), The Works of Anna Laetita Barbauld (1825), The Life of Anne Boleyn
(1827), and The Life of Joseph Addison
(1843).
However, as memoirs and obituaries are quick to point out, she was probably most famous for her historical works: Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth (1818), Memoirs of the Court of James I (1822), and Memoirs of the Court of Charles I (1833).
Under the pseudonym Mary Godolphin
, Lucy Aikin is also attributed for producing versions of:Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Aesop's Fables
, Evenings at Home, and Sandford and Merton, "in Words of One Syllable".
She was remarkable for her conversational powers, and was also an admirable letter-writer. She died at Hampstead
, then just north of London, where she had lived for forty years.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
s, was a historical writer.
Family and education
Lucy Aikin was born into a family of writers, the most well known of whom was her paternal aunt, Anna Letitia Barbauld, a woman of letters who wrote poetry and essays as well as early children's literatureChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. Lucy's father, Dr. John Aikin
John Aikin
John Aikin was an English doctor and writer.-Life:He was born at Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, England, son of Dr. John Aikin, Unitarian divine, and received his elementary education at the Nonconformist academy at Warrington, where his father was a tutor. He studied medicine at the...
, was a medical doctor, historian, and author. Her grandfather, also called John Aikin
John Aikin (Unitarian)
John Aikin was an English Unitarian scholar and theological tutor, closely associated with Warrington Academy, a prominent dissenting academy.-Life:...
(1713–1780), was a Unitarian scholar and theological tutor, closely associated with Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy, active as a teaching establishment from 1756 to 1782, was a prominent dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by those who dissented from the state church in England...
. Lucy's brother was Arthur Aikin
Arthur Aikin
Arthur Aikin , English chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer, was born in Warrington, Lancashire into a distinguished literary family of prominent Unitarians....
(1773–1854), chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer.
Lucy was educated by her father and her aunt, an early critic of the education system. She "read widely in English, French, Italian, and Latin literature and history", and began writing for magazines at the age of seventeen, and at an early age assisted her father as an editor in his writings as well.
Writing career
Aikin was interested in early education, and as such published several works to assist young readers: Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory (1801), Juvenile Correspondence or Letters, Designed as Examples of the Epistolary Style, for Children of Both Sexes (1811), An English Lesson Book, for the Junior Classes (1828), and The Acts of Life: of Providing Food, of Providing Clothing, of Providing Shelter (1858).Aikin also was responsible for translating the French texts: Louis Francois Jauffret’s The Travels of Rolando (publication appears to be around 1804), and Jean Gaspard Hess’s The Life of Ulrich Zwingli (1812), a life of the leader of the Reformation in Switzerland
Reformation in Switzerland
The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland was promoted initially by Huldrych Zwingli, who gained the support of the magistrate and population of Zürich in the 1520s. It led to significant changes in civil life and state matters in Zürich and spread to several other cantons of the Old Swiss...
. She also was responsible for two creative works: Epistles on Women, Exemplifying their Character and Condition in Various Ages and Nations, with Miscellaneous Poems (1810), and her only work of fiction, Lorimer, a Tale (1814). She also was well-remembered for her biographical works: Memoir of John Aikin, MD (1823), The Works of Anna Laetita Barbauld (1825), The Life of Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
(1827), and The Life of Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was a man of letters, eldest son of Lancelot Addison...
(1843).
However, as memoirs and obituaries are quick to point out, she was probably most famous for her historical works: Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth (1818), Memoirs of the Court of James I (1822), and Memoirs of the Court of Charles I (1833).
Under the pseudonym Mary Godolphin
Mary Godolphin
Mary Godolphin is the name of:*Mary Osborne , Duchess of Leeds*Lucy Aikin , author...
, Lucy Aikin is also attributed for producing versions of:Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables or the Aesopica are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and story-teller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE. The fables remain a popular choice for moral education of children today...
, Evenings at Home, and Sandford and Merton, "in Words of One Syllable".
She was remarkable for her conversational powers, and was also an admirable letter-writer. She died at Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, then just north of London, where she had lived for forty years.
Chronological list of publications
Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in literature" article (except for 1801, which links to "1801 in poetry"):- 1801: Poetry for Children: Consisting of Short Pieces to be Committed to Memory
- 1804: Louis Francois Jauffret’s The Travels of Rolando (translation from French)
- 1810: Epistles on Women, Exemplifying their Character and Condition in Various Ages and Nations, with Miscellaneous Poems
- 1811: Juvenile Correspondence or Letters, Designed as Examples of the Epistolary Style, for Children of Both Sexes
- 1812: Jean Gaspard Hess’ The Life of Ulrich Zwingli (translation from French)
- 1814: Lorimer, a Tale
- 1818: Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth
- 1822: Memoirs of the Court of James I
- 1823: Memoir of John Aikin, MD
- 1825: The Works of Anna Laetita Barbauld
- 1827: The Life of Anne Boleyn
- 1828: An English Lesson Book, for the Junior Classes
- 1833: Memoirs of the Court of Charles I
- 1843: The Life of Joseph Addison
- 1858: The Acts of Life: of Providing Food, of Providing Clothing, of Providing Shelter
- 1858: Holiday Stories for Young Readers
Works attributed to her as Mary Godolphin
- 1867: Robinson Crusoe: In Words of One Syllable
- 1868: Sandford and Merton: In Words of One Syllable
- 1868: An Evening at Home: In Words of One Syllable
- 1869: Aesop's Fables: In Words of One Syllable
- 1869: The Pilgrim's Progress: In Words of One Syllable
- 1869: The Swiss Family Robinson: In Words of One Syllable
- 1870: The One Syllable Sunday Book
External links
- "Mary Godolphin", books.