Volume 14 , Issue 2

History of Eliza Warwick (Fictional 1778, Vol. I & II)

I have been reading The History of Eliza Warwick, Vol. I that was printed and published in 1778 in two volumes, in London, printed for J. BEW, in Pater-Noster-Row. It is somewhat hard to read at times because you have to stop now and then to decipher some of the text where the "s" is printed to look like an elongated "f."

Although it is professed to be fictional in nature, mentioning that the names are fictional, I find this sad romeo and juliet type of epistle novel, love story of the eighteenth, London, to be quite sad, interesting because of the similarities of the names. The surname of Warwick is part of my ancestors that settled in the Virginias. I guess I shall always wonder if . . . a Warwick ancestor wrote, embelished this Warwick story and changed names of some of the characters!

After you get past the first few pages, chapters, Eliza Warwick tells her sad story of her orphanism by her parents Col. Harry Warwick and Lady Tenterdon Warwick, who died before and at Eliza's birth.

It begins with "To the Reviewers. Gentlemen, To your protection I offer a work, which has, indeed, little to recommend it to your notice, but the motive on which it was undertaken; and as that is such as the most virtuous would approve, I dare to ask your countenance to forward this attempt."

"Were I not as well convinced of your mercy, as of your justice, I could hardly presume to offer the following sheets to the eye of criticism; but as I am sure you will pass over many errors, in consideration of the request I make you for the purpose, I beg leave to dedicate my first production to a set of gentlemen, whose sentiments I esteem, whose abilities I admire."

"I am not so ungenerous as to hope to prejudice you in my favor, by telling you that I am a female, and a very young one -- Your gallantry might, to be sure, on that account, whisper something in my behalf -- I do not mean that it should when I make that confession -- nor should it be made at all, but that I think it necessary to apologize, as a woman, for this work's not being written, perhaps, so accurately as you would expect it should be, did it come from one of your own sex."

"And now, gentlemen, I will say no more in the vindication of Eliza Warwick -- but will only hope, that, if there is nothing in her that can incline you to favor her, you will pass her by in silence in your Review, and not mortify the delicacy (or, if you please, vanity) of one so much interested in her fate as I am, by any of those satirical strokes with which sentimental Novels in general are marked by your pen. I am, Gentlemen, your admirer, and obedient servant, The Author."

Was it back in the days of 1778, London, that only the male sex wrote and were published? And a young woman who wrote and wanted to be published had to beg for publication and was unthinkable that woman should be educated and smart to write?

I will continue the first few pages in this week's ezine of the story of Eliza Warwick, in "The History of Eliza Warwick, Vol. I." below.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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