Anna Eliza Bray
Encyclopedia
Anna Eliza Bray was a British novelist.
Anna Eliza Kempe was born in the parish of Newington, Surrey, on 25 Dec. 1790, to John Kempe, bullion porter in the Mint, and Ann, daughter of James Arrow of Westminster. Kempe planned to be an actress, and her public appearance at the Bath Theatre was duly announced for 27 May 1815. She caught a severe cold on her journey, which prevented her appearance, and the opportunity was lost. In February 1818, she married Charles Alfred Stothard
, son of the distinguished royal academician, Thomas Stothard
. Stothard was an artist devoted to illustrating the sculptured monuments of Great Britain. They journeyed to France, and her first work consisted of Letters written during a Tour in Normandy, Brittany, &c., in 1818.
Her husband died from a fall off a ladder in Beer Ferrers church, Devonshire, on 28 May 1821, while collecting materials for his work, The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain. She had one child with Stothard, a daughter, born posthumously 29 June 1821, who died 2 Feb. 1822.
Mrs. Stothard undertook to complete the book her husband left unfinished, with the aid of her brother, Alfred John Kempe, F.S.A. At his death, Stothard had reached the ninth number, and the entire volume—published in 1832—strained his widow's resources. She subsequently (1823) produced a memoir of her late husband. Many years later she communicated to the Gentleman's Magazine and to Blackwood's Magazine
reminiscences of her father-in-law, Thomas Stothard, R.A., and these were afterwards (1851) expanded into a life of that admirable artist. At her death she left to the British Museum the original drawings of her husband's great work.
A year or two after Stothard died, Anna Eliza married Edward Atkyns Bray
, the vicar of Tavistock. She then began writing novels, and from 1826 to 1874, produced at least a dozen. Some of these, such as The Talba, or the Moor of Portugal dealt with foreign life, but she based her most popular novels on the principal families (the Trelawneys of Trelawne, the Pomeroys, and the Courtenays of Walreddon) of the counties of Devon
and Cornwall
. They were historical novels, and proved so popular that they were issued in a set of ten volumes by Longmans in 1845-6, and were reprinted by Chapman & Hall as recently as 1884. Her second husband died in 1857, and Mrs. Bray then removed to London, where she selected and edited some of her late husband's poetry and sermons, and then returned to original work. Her last years were embittered by a report that during a visit to Bayeux
in 1816, she stole a piece of that city's famous tapestry. However, her character was cleared by correspondence and leading articles that appeared in the Times. After a long life in literary labours, she died in London on 21 Jan. 1883. Her autobiography, to 1843, was published by her nephew, Mr. John A. Kempe, in 1884—but it is sketchy, and less than accurate. It depicts an accomplished and kindly woman, proud of her own creations, and enthusiastic in praise of the literary characters she knew.
Bray authored many works in addition to those already enumerated. The most entertaining and valuable was The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy (1836, 3 vols.), which describe, in a series of letters to Southey, the traditions, legends and superstitions that surround the town of Tavistock, on the borders of the twin-streams of the River Tamar
and the River Tavy
. It was reviewed by Southey in the Quarterly Review. The remainder copies were issued with a new title-page by Mr. H. G. Bohn in 1838, and a new edition, compressed by Mrs. Bray herself into two volumes, appeared in 1879. With this may be read a series of tales for 'young people' on the romantic legends connected with Dartmoor
and North Cornwall
, entitled, A Peep at the Pixies, or Legends of the West (1854). The interest of her travels, The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland, with Notes on the Route there and back (1841), may be said to have evaporated by this time, though their value at a time when the continent was less explored than it is now was generally recognised. When after a silence of some years she again in 1870 appeared as an author, she issued three compilations in French history, The Good St. Louis and his Times, The Revolt of the Protestants of the Cevennes, and Joan of Arc. All of them were pleasantly written, but lacked historical research that could make them of permanent value, particularly when compared to the Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy.
Among her other works are Branded, Trelawney, and The White Hoods: an Historical Romance
.
Anna Eliza Kempe was born in the parish of Newington, Surrey, on 25 Dec. 1790, to John Kempe, bullion porter in the Mint, and Ann, daughter of James Arrow of Westminster. Kempe planned to be an actress, and her public appearance at the Bath Theatre was duly announced for 27 May 1815. She caught a severe cold on her journey, which prevented her appearance, and the opportunity was lost. In February 1818, she married Charles Alfred Stothard
Charles Alfred Stothard
Charles Alfred Stothard was an antiquarian draughtsman.Stothard was born in London, the son of the painter, Thomas Stothard. After studying in the schools of the Royal Academy, he began, in 1810, his first historical picture, the Death of Richard II in Pomfret Castle...
, son of the distinguished royal academician, Thomas Stothard
Thomas Stothard
Thomas Stothard was an English painter, illustrator and engraver.-Life and work:Stothard was born in London, the son of a well-to-do innkeeper in Long Acre, London. A delicate child, he was sent at the age of five to a relative in Yorkshire, and attended school at Acomb, and afterwards at...
. Stothard was an artist devoted to illustrating the sculptured monuments of Great Britain. They journeyed to France, and her first work consisted of Letters written during a Tour in Normandy, Brittany, &c., in 1818.
Her husband died from a fall off a ladder in Beer Ferrers church, Devonshire, on 28 May 1821, while collecting materials for his work, The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain. She had one child with Stothard, a daughter, born posthumously 29 June 1821, who died 2 Feb. 1822.
Mrs. Stothard undertook to complete the book her husband left unfinished, with the aid of her brother, Alfred John Kempe, F.S.A. At his death, Stothard had reached the ninth number, and the entire volume—published in 1832—strained his widow's resources. She subsequently (1823) produced a memoir of her late husband. Many years later she communicated to the Gentleman's Magazine and to Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
reminiscences of her father-in-law, Thomas Stothard, R.A., and these were afterwards (1851) expanded into a life of that admirable artist. At her death she left to the British Museum the original drawings of her husband's great work.
A year or two after Stothard died, Anna Eliza married Edward Atkyns Bray
Edward Atkyns Bray
Edward Atkyns Bray , was a British poet, vicar, and miscellaneous writer.Bray was the only son of Edward Bray, solicitor, and manager of the Devonshire estates of the Duke of Bedford, was born at the Abbey House, Tavistock, 18 Dec. 1778. His mother, Mary, a daughter of Dr...
, the vicar of Tavistock. She then began writing novels, and from 1826 to 1874, produced at least a dozen. Some of these, such as The Talba, or the Moor of Portugal dealt with foreign life, but she based her most popular novels on the principal families (the Trelawneys of Trelawne, the Pomeroys, and the Courtenays of Walreddon) of the counties of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. They were historical novels, and proved so popular that they were issued in a set of ten volumes by Longmans in 1845-6, and were reprinted by Chapman & Hall as recently as 1884. Her second husband died in 1857, and Mrs. Bray then removed to London, where she selected and edited some of her late husband's poetry and sermons, and then returned to original work. Her last years were embittered by a report that during a visit to Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
in 1816, she stole a piece of that city's famous tapestry. However, her character was cleared by correspondence and leading articles that appeared in the Times. After a long life in literary labours, she died in London on 21 Jan. 1883. Her autobiography, to 1843, was published by her nephew, Mr. John A. Kempe, in 1884—but it is sketchy, and less than accurate. It depicts an accomplished and kindly woman, proud of her own creations, and enthusiastic in praise of the literary characters she knew.
Bray authored many works in addition to those already enumerated. The most entertaining and valuable was The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy (1836, 3 vols.), which describe, in a series of letters to Southey, the traditions, legends and superstitions that surround the town of Tavistock, on the borders of the twin-streams of the River Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
and the River Tavy
River Tavy
The Tavy is a river on Dartmoor, Devon, England. The name derives from the Brythonic root "Taff", the original meaning of which has now been lost...
. It was reviewed by Southey in the Quarterly Review. The remainder copies were issued with a new title-page by Mr. H. G. Bohn in 1838, and a new edition, compressed by Mrs. Bray herself into two volumes, appeared in 1879. With this may be read a series of tales for 'young people' on the romantic legends connected with Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
and North Cornwall
North Cornwall
North Cornwall was the largest of the six local government districts of Cornwall, United Kingdom. Its council was based in Wadebridge . Other towns in the district included Bude, Bodmin, Launceston, Padstow, and Camelford....
, entitled, A Peep at the Pixies, or Legends of the West (1854). The interest of her travels, The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland, with Notes on the Route there and back (1841), may be said to have evaporated by this time, though their value at a time when the continent was less explored than it is now was generally recognised. When after a silence of some years she again in 1870 appeared as an author, she issued three compilations in French history, The Good St. Louis and his Times, The Revolt of the Protestants of the Cevennes, and Joan of Arc. All of them were pleasantly written, but lacked historical research that could make them of permanent value, particularly when compared to the Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy.
Among her other works are Branded, Trelawney, and The White Hoods: an Historical Romance
The White Hoods: an Historical Romance
The White Hoods: an Historical Romance is a historical novel by Anna Eliza Bray first published in 1828 in London.-External links:*...
.
Further reading
- Dennis Low, The Literary Protégées of the Lake Poets (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006)