Sarah Grand
Encyclopedia
Sarah Grand was a British
feminist writer active from 1873 to 1922. Her work revolved around the New Woman
ideal.
e Sarah Grand was born Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke in Rosebank House, Donaghadee
, County Down
, Ireland of English parents. Her father was Edward John Bellenden Clarke (1813–1862) and her mother was Margaret Bell Sherwood (1813–1874). When her father died, her mother took her and her siblings back to Bridlington
, England to be near her family who lived at Rysome Garth near Holmpton
in East Yorkshire.
Frances' education was very sporadic and and she lacked a formal education. Yet she managed with perseverance and enterprising work habits matured her writing to sophistication and eloquence. Her travels and encounters in life such as a loveless marriage would provide her with the details to base her writings on. Her trait qualities would be personified with many of her characters. She was however very well read.
In 1868 Frances was sent to the Royal Naval School, Twickenham
, but was soon expelled for organizing groups that supported Josephine Butler
's dissent against the Contagious Diseases Act, which persecuted prostitutes as infected women, as the unequal sole cause of the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and subjected them to indignities such as inspection of their genital and quarantined them in Lock Hospitals.
Francis was then sent to a finishing school
in Kensington
, London. In August 1870, at the age of sixteen, she married widowed Army surgeon David Chambers McFall, who was 21 years her senior and had two sons from his previous marriage: Chambers Haldane Cooke McFall and Albert William Crawford McFall. Frances and McFall's only child, David Archibald Edward McFall, was born in Sandgate, Kent
, on 7 October 1871. Her son David, latter became an actor and took the name Archie Carlow Grand.
Through the relationship to an Army Surgeon, Frances learned of the anatomical Physiology of relatively unknown nature of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, she illustrates these details in her later novel "The Heavenly Twin" warning of the emerging plague Syphilis
and advocated sensitivity for the rights of the young women infected with these diseases.
From 1873 to 1878 the family travelled in the Far East. The exotic tour provided, Frances with a vast wealth of descriptions and a host of relationships to base realistic, amazing, animated and colourful details to draw from. In 1879 they moved to Norwich
, and in 1881 to Warrington
, Lancashire where her husband retired.
Upon returning to England, she was unhappy with her husband's steadily degrading sense of ethical morally sexual character, and felt constrictive. She turned to writing to cope. Her first novel Ideala, published in 1888, to limited success and much discouraging rejections. She was encouraged her to trust in her emerging literary skills to support her decision to divorce her husband in 1890. Recently enacted laws such as allowing women to retain their personal property after divorce, was an encouraging factor in her decision.
She retained suffocating moments in her marriage and liberation as picturesque details in her characters to base her animations of her characters and sympathize the plight actual of pre-sufferage women with little political rights and options, trapped in oppressive marriages. Although later works would have a more sympathetic stance to males, such as Babs the Impossible in which the single noble women would feel resurgence in their worth encouraged by a idealist self made man
.
", an archetype she and her female contemporary colleagues progressed. Grand established the phrase "New Woman", in a debate with Ouida
in 1894.
She lived briefly in London then latter for 20 years in Tunbridge Wells Kent, during which time she took an active part in the local women's suffrage societies, as well as travelling extensively, particularly to the United States on a lecture tour, in the wake of notorious sensational fame caused from her novel The Heavenly Twins. Although it gained her mixed angry criticism, her work was well received with notable authors as George Bernard Shaw
, and Mark Twain
. 1920 she moved to Bath and was for several years Lady Mayoress
alongside Mayor Cedric Chivers. She was well received, the villagers asked her to serve as Mayor. She moved to Calne, Wiltshire, where she died in 1942.
in fiction and in fact, she wrote treatise
s on the subject of the failure of marriage, and her novels may be considered strongly anti-marriage polemics. However, Grand does maintain marriage as being the most holiest and perfect state of union between a man and woman. She does however state the inequality and disadvantages intended to keep young women ignorant, and that women should rebel against this fate of entrapment in a loveless marriage.
The New Woman novel was a development of the late 19th century. New Woman novelists and characters encouraged and supported many different types of political action in Britain. For some women, the New Woman movement provided support for women who wanted to work and learn for themselves, and who started to question the idea of marriage and the inequality of women. For other women, especially Sarah Grand, the New Woman movement allowed women to speak out not only about the inequality of women, but about middle-class women's responsibilities to the nation. In The Heavenly Twins Grand demonstrates the dangers of the moral double standard which overlooked men's promiscuity while punishing women for the same acts. More importantly, however, Grand argues in The Heavenly Twins that in order for the British nation to grow stronger, middle-class women have the responsibility of choosing mates with whom they might produce strong, well-educated children.
keeps Mark Twain'
s copy of The Heavenly Twins. Twain filled the margins of the book with increasingly critical comments, writing after one chapter, "A cat could do better literature than this."
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
feminist writer active from 1873 to 1922. Her work revolved around the New Woman
New Woman
The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century. The New Woman pushed the limits set by male-dominated society, especially as modeled in the plays of Norwegian Henrik Ibsen . "The New Woman sprang fully armed from Ibsen's brain," according to a joke by Max Beerbohm...
ideal.
Early Life and Influences of Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke
MadamMadam
Madam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
e Sarah Grand was born Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke in Rosebank House, Donaghadee
Donaghadee
Donaghadee is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula, about east of Belfast and about six miles south east of Bangor. It had a population of 6,470 people in the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Ireland of English parents. Her father was Edward John Bellenden Clarke (1813–1862) and her mother was Margaret Bell Sherwood (1813–1874). When her father died, her mother took her and her siblings back to Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
, England to be near her family who lived at Rysome Garth near Holmpton
Holmpton
Holmpton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England in an area known as Holderness. It is situated approximately south of Withernsea town centre and east of the village of Patrington.It lies just inland from the North Sea coast....
in East Yorkshire.
Frances' education was very sporadic and and she lacked a formal education. Yet she managed with perseverance and enterprising work habits matured her writing to sophistication and eloquence. Her travels and encounters in life such as a loveless marriage would provide her with the details to base her writings on. Her trait qualities would be personified with many of her characters. She was however very well read.
In 1868 Frances was sent to the Royal Naval School, Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, but was soon expelled for organizing groups that supported Josephine Butler
Josephine Butler
Josephine Elizabeth Butler was a Victorian era British feminist who was especially concerned with the welfare of prostitutes...
's dissent against the Contagious Diseases Act, which persecuted prostitutes as infected women, as the unequal sole cause of the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and subjected them to indignities such as inspection of their genital and quarantined them in Lock Hospitals.
Francis was then sent to a finishing school
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London. In August 1870, at the age of sixteen, she married widowed Army surgeon David Chambers McFall, who was 21 years her senior and had two sons from his previous marriage: Chambers Haldane Cooke McFall and Albert William Crawford McFall. Frances and McFall's only child, David Archibald Edward McFall, was born in Sandgate, Kent
Sandgate, Kent
Sandgate is a village in the Folkestone and Hythe Urban Area in the Shepway district of Kent, England. In 2004, the village re-acquired civil parish status....
, on 7 October 1871. Her son David, latter became an actor and took the name Archie Carlow Grand.
Through the relationship to an Army Surgeon, Frances learned of the anatomical Physiology of relatively unknown nature of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, she illustrates these details in her later novel "The Heavenly Twin" warning of the emerging plague Syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
and advocated sensitivity for the rights of the young women infected with these diseases.
From 1873 to 1878 the family travelled in the Far East. The exotic tour provided, Frances with a vast wealth of descriptions and a host of relationships to base realistic, amazing, animated and colourful details to draw from. In 1879 they moved to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, and in 1881 to Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, Lancashire where her husband retired.
Upon returning to England, she was unhappy with her husband's steadily degrading sense of ethical morally sexual character, and felt constrictive. She turned to writing to cope. Her first novel Ideala, published in 1888, to limited success and much discouraging rejections. She was encouraged her to trust in her emerging literary skills to support her decision to divorce her husband in 1890. Recently enacted laws such as allowing women to retain their personal property after divorce, was an encouraging factor in her decision.
She retained suffocating moments in her marriage and liberation as picturesque details in her characters to base her animations of her characters and sympathize the plight actual of pre-sufferage women with little political rights and options, trapped in oppressive marriages. Although later works would have a more sympathetic stance to males, such as Babs the Impossible in which the single noble women would feel resurgence in their worth encouraged by a idealist self made man
Self Made Man
"Self Made Man" is the 20th episode of the United States television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles...
.
Rebirth as Madame Sarah Grand
Frances, transformed herself into Madame Sarah Grand, a feminine pen name, a"New WomanNew Woman
The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century. The New Woman pushed the limits set by male-dominated society, especially as modeled in the plays of Norwegian Henrik Ibsen . "The New Woman sprang fully armed from Ibsen's brain," according to a joke by Max Beerbohm...
", an archetype she and her female contemporary colleagues progressed. Grand established the phrase "New Woman", in a debate with Ouida
Ouida
Ouida was the pseudonym of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé .-Biography:...
in 1894.
She lived briefly in London then latter for 20 years in Tunbridge Wells Kent, during which time she took an active part in the local women's suffrage societies, as well as travelling extensively, particularly to the United States on a lecture tour, in the wake of notorious sensational fame caused from her novel The Heavenly Twins. Although it gained her mixed angry criticism, her work was well received with notable authors as George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, and Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
. 1920 she moved to Bath and was for several years Lady Mayoress
Lady Mayoress
Lady Mayoress is the term traditionally applied to the wife of a Lord Mayor of a major city in the United Kingdom or a capital city of an Australian state. It is not an elected office.-Lady Mayoress:...
alongside Mayor Cedric Chivers. She was well received, the villagers asked her to serve as Mayor. She moved to Calne, Wiltshire, where she died in 1942.
Writing
Her work dealt with the New WomanNew Woman
The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century. The New Woman pushed the limits set by male-dominated society, especially as modeled in the plays of Norwegian Henrik Ibsen . "The New Woman sprang fully armed from Ibsen's brain," according to a joke by Max Beerbohm...
in fiction and in fact, she wrote treatise
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
s on the subject of the failure of marriage, and her novels may be considered strongly anti-marriage polemics. However, Grand does maintain marriage as being the most holiest and perfect state of union between a man and woman. She does however state the inequality and disadvantages intended to keep young women ignorant, and that women should rebel against this fate of entrapment in a loveless marriage.
The New Woman novel was a development of the late 19th century. New Woman novelists and characters encouraged and supported many different types of political action in Britain. For some women, the New Woman movement provided support for women who wanted to work and learn for themselves, and who started to question the idea of marriage and the inequality of women. For other women, especially Sarah Grand, the New Woman movement allowed women to speak out not only about the inequality of women, but about middle-class women's responsibilities to the nation. In The Heavenly Twins Grand demonstrates the dangers of the moral double standard which overlooked men's promiscuity while punishing women for the same acts. More importantly, however, Grand argues in The Heavenly Twins that in order for the British nation to grow stronger, middle-class women have the responsibility of choosing mates with whom they might produce strong, well-educated children.
Criticism
The Berg Collection of the New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
keeps Mark Twain'
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
s copy of The Heavenly Twins. Twain filled the margins of the book with increasingly critical comments, writing after one chapter, "A cat could do better literature than this."
Works
- Ideala, 1888
- The Heavenly Twins, 1893
- Our Manifold Nature, 1894
- The Beth Book, 1897
- Babs the Impossible,1901
- Adnam's Orchard, 1912
- The Winged Victory, 1916
- Variety, 1922