On this day in 1832, Sir Walter Scott, poet and novelist, passed from this life. Scott was famous for his poetry before trying his hand at novel writing. Since poetry was held in high regard, and novels considered to be of less importance, he endeavored (unsuccessfully) to keep his novels anonymous.
Scott wrote about historical traditions of the kind that appealed to Frances Rolleston. She considered herself an "Anglo-Saxon enthusiast." Ivanhoe, which portrayed the cruel Normans lording it over the Saxons, would certainly have pleased her. She recommended Scott's works as good reading for children.
So, although Frances feared, while still young, an old age of novel reading, she did later see value in novels.
On this day in 1809, according to Frewin's Book of Days, Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born. However, other sources disagree and say it happened on August 6. In spite of that, I will continue with this blog.
Tennyson was made Poet Laureate in 1850. He was popular with the general public, and Frances Rolleston in particular, who stated in 1851 that he would certainly found a school of poetry. She called herself an Anglo-Saxon enthusiast and loved ballads and epic poetry based on legends of ancient heroes. As to that, Tennyson's Idylls of the King, a series of twelve poems telling the story of King Arthur certainly gave her joy. He published the first four in 1859 (the remaining ones not until after Frances had passed away.)
While reading Tennyson's Idylls in late December 1859, Frances was suddenly struck by the idea that "Canticles" (The "Song of Solomon" in the Bible) was the true idyll of the true king. She had recently been engaged in putting poetic parts of the Bible into metrical form and now felt she must do so with "Canticles." The idea was so strong that she immediately began working, continuing even on a Sunday. She normally would not have broken the Sabbath with such work, but "quieted my conscience with the idea that was God's word that had got hold of me."
Although the English Bible read poetically, Frances decided that the poetry in it could only be truly represented in poetry. She spent many happy hours rendering the Psalms, Canticles and other parts of the Hebrew Bible into metrical poetry. Metrical Versions of Early Hebrew Poetry was published before 1867.
September 22, 1863
FR writes a long letter to her niece who is about to be married. The bridegroom has the distinction of "Anglo-Saxon Professor," which FR holds in higher respect than a peerage, and so after a paragraph of good wishes, the letter is devoted to her love of Anglo-Saxon history.
The following three books listed here with links for either reading online or purchasing, were among those FR had read:
History of the Anglo-Saxons by Sharon Turner. 1852. 3 volumes.
Harold, The Last of the Saxon Kings by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton
History of the Anglo-Saxons by Sir Francis Palgrave
In addition to these, FR mentioned "a very amusing little Anglo-American book, 'The Courtship of Miles Standish,' in which Longfellow included 'a delightful scene between "Alfred the Truth-Teller" and the Mariner-discoverer of the North Polar Sea." And she finishes with this surprising note: "My hero Alfred was well sketched there, and what a fine head he has! beyond 'all Greek, all Roman fame,' for manly beauty."