A Guide to the Letitia Elizabeth Landon Papers , 1838-1842, n.d. #10991

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
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USA
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Letitia Elizabeth Landon Papers, 1838-1842, n.d., Accession #10991, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased on October 31, 1990.

Biographical/Historical Information

Letitia Elizabeth Landon was born in Chelsea, London on August 14, 1802. Known as L. E. L., she became a popular writer of verse through her contributions to the literary publications of the day. By 1820 she had begun to publish larger works, with The Fate of Adelaide: A Swiss Romantic Tale , followed by several more works of poetry. Her Romance and Reality (1830) brought her widespread popularity. She published a romance, Francesca Carrara in 1834, and a novel, Ethel Churchill in 1837. Lady Ann Granard was published posthumously, with only the earlier chapters being her work. She married George MacLean, a colonial governor of Cape Coast Castle, West Africa, on June 7, 1838. Apparently, the victim of an unhappy marriage, she tried to console herself by returning to her literary pursuits. On October 16, 1838, she died of an overdose of prussic acid, which she had been using for an ailment.

Scope and Content Information

There are five items, 1838-1842 and n.d., of or pertaining to Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802-1838), including a personal letter from her to Mr. Jerdan, an autograph poem, "Song," two engravings, and four pages of newspaper clippings of reminiscences as well as some of her poems. An obituary, October 15, 1838, is pasted on the inside of the letter.