Jane Collier
Encyclopedia
Jane Collier was an English novelist most famous for her book An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting
(1753). She also collaborated with Sarah Fielding
on her only other surviving work The Cry
(1754).
During her life, she was able to meet and work with many famous writers of her day. In particular, Samuel Richardson
and Henry Fielding
both had a particular interest in her intelligence and in her writing ability.
, the daughter of philosopher and clergyman Reverend Authur Collier, and Margaret Johnson. She had two brothers and one sister. In 1716, their family were forced to move into a less expensive residence in Salisbury
to pay debts. It was here that her brother Arthur, named after their father, studied law and educated his sisters, along with her childhood friend Sarah Fielding, in Greek and Latin language and literature; his manner of education was to prepare the girls to become governesses.
In 1732, her father died and Jane (17), along with her sister Margaret (15), were left without anyone to provide for them. In 1748, the sisters moved in with their brother Arthur who was living in the Doctors' Commons. During this time, Arthur "quarrelled" with Henry, and it is possible that a split formed between the siblings. A year after, in 1749, her mother died. Soon after, the living arrangements dissolved, and Margaret became the governess to Henry Fielding's daughters and Jane with Samuel Richardson. Richardson was impressed by Collier's education, and wrote to Lady Bradshaigh that Jane was proof "that women may be trusted with Latin and even Greek, and yet not think themselves above their domestic duties."
Collier never married, possibly because she could not offer a sufficient dowry
, or possibly because, like Sarah Fielding, she hoped to establish an independent living through her writing. In 1748, Richardson was using Collier as a go between with Sarah Fielding in order to help the two write. In 1753, she wrote The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting with the help of Sarah Fielding and possibly James Harris or Samuel Richardson. Afterwards, it was Richardson who printed the work. Her final book, written with Sarah Fielding, was The Cry, published in 1754.
She died in 1755, just a year after the publication of The Cry. After her death, Richardson wrote to Sarah Fielding: "Don't you miss our dear Miss Jenny Collier more and more?-I do." Before she died, she planned a sequel to The Cry, describing it as "A book called The Laugh on the same plan as The Cry". Richardson urged Fielding to revise The Cry just two years later.
, and Charlotte Turner Smith
) who experimented with "alternative models for relationships, for different ways of regarding others and even for ameliorating society."
As a sign of his favor for Collier's style, satiric humor, and classical learning, Henry Fielding wrote in the beginning of an edition of Horace
:
This was one of the last works that Fielding would write because he left that evening on a trip to Lisbon
where he died two months later.
An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting
Jane Collier's An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting , a conduct book, was her first work. The Essay operates as a satirical advice book on how to nag and it was modeled after Jonathan Swift's satirical essays. The work is intended to "teach" a reader the various methods for "teasing and...
(1753). She also collaborated with Sarah Fielding
Sarah Fielding
Sarah Fielding was a British author and sister of the novelist Henry Fielding. She was the author of The Governess, or The Little Female Academy , which was the first novel in English written especially for children , and had earlier achieved success with her novel The Adventures of David Simple...
on her only other surviving work The Cry
The Cry (book)
Jane Collier's and Sarah Fielding's The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable was Fielding's sixth and Collier's second and final work. The work is an allegorical and satirical novel...
(1754).
During her life, she was able to meet and work with many famous writers of her day. In particular, Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
and Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
both had a particular interest in her intelligence and in her writing ability.
Personal life
Collier was baptized on the 16th of January 1715 in WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, the daughter of philosopher and clergyman Reverend Authur Collier, and Margaret Johnson. She had two brothers and one sister. In 1716, their family were forced to move into a less expensive residence in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
to pay debts. It was here that her brother Arthur, named after their father, studied law and educated his sisters, along with her childhood friend Sarah Fielding, in Greek and Latin language and literature; his manner of education was to prepare the girls to become governesses.
In 1732, her father died and Jane (17), along with her sister Margaret (15), were left without anyone to provide for them. In 1748, the sisters moved in with their brother Arthur who was living in the Doctors' Commons. During this time, Arthur "quarrelled" with Henry, and it is possible that a split formed between the siblings. A year after, in 1749, her mother died. Soon after, the living arrangements dissolved, and Margaret became the governess to Henry Fielding's daughters and Jane with Samuel Richardson. Richardson was impressed by Collier's education, and wrote to Lady Bradshaigh that Jane was proof "that women may be trusted with Latin and even Greek, and yet not think themselves above their domestic duties."
Collier never married, possibly because she could not offer a sufficient dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
, or possibly because, like Sarah Fielding, she hoped to establish an independent living through her writing. In 1748, Richardson was using Collier as a go between with Sarah Fielding in order to help the two write. In 1753, she wrote The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting with the help of Sarah Fielding and possibly James Harris or Samuel Richardson. Afterwards, it was Richardson who printed the work. Her final book, written with Sarah Fielding, was The Cry, published in 1754.
She died in 1755, just a year after the publication of The Cry. After her death, Richardson wrote to Sarah Fielding: "Don't you miss our dear Miss Jenny Collier more and more?-I do." Before she died, she planned a sequel to The Cry, describing it as "A book called The Laugh on the same plan as The Cry". Richardson urged Fielding to revise The Cry just two years later.
Style
Collier's The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting has been described as the "best-known generic satire written in the eighteenth century by a woman." She is one of the many female 18th-century authors (including Frances Burney, Sarah Fielding, Sarah ScottSarah Scott
Sarah Scott was an English novelist, translator, and social reformer. Her father, Matthew Robinson, and her mother, Elizabeth Robinson, were both from distinguished families, and Sarah was one of nine children who survived to adulthood...
, and Charlotte Turner Smith
Charlotte Turner Smith
Charlotte Turner Smith was an English Romantic poet and novelist. She initiated a revival of the English sonnet, helped establish the conventions of Gothic fiction, and wrote political novels of sensibility....
) who experimented with "alternative models for relationships, for different ways of regarding others and even for ameliorating society."
As a sign of his favor for Collier's style, satiric humor, and classical learning, Henry Fielding wrote in the beginning of an edition of Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
:
- To Miss Jane Collyer,
- This Edition of the best
- of all the Roman Poets,
- as a Memorial (however poor)
- of the highest Esteem for
- an Understanding more than
- Female, mixed with virtues almost
- more than human, gives, offers up
- and dedicates her Sincere Friend
- Henry Fielding
This was one of the last works that Fielding would write because he left that evening on a trip to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
where he died two months later.
List of works
- An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously TormentingAn Essay on the Art of Ingeniously TormentingJane Collier's An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting , a conduct book, was her first work. The Essay operates as a satirical advice book on how to nag and it was modeled after Jonathan Swift's satirical essays. The work is intended to "teach" a reader the various methods for "teasing and...
(1753). A social satireSatireSatire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
that was originally published anonymously and sold well, with ten editions being published between 1753 and 1811. - The Cry: A New Dramatic FableThe Cry (book)Jane Collier's and Sarah Fielding's The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable was Fielding's sixth and Collier's second and final work. The work is an allegorical and satirical novel...
(1754), by Collier and Sarah Fielding. A complex work describing the struggle of its heroines against the 'spiteful and malicious tongues' of an unprincipled society.