Alice C. Jones
Alice C. Jones was a notable Canadian writer born in 1853, known for her significant contributions to literature during her lifetime. Hailing from a distinguished family, she received an extensive education in languages, art, and literature, exploring the works of prominent authors like Shakespeare and Eliot. Her early travels to iconic cities such as Rome, Florence, and Cairo fueled her passion for writing, leading to published travelogues that reflected her wanderlust. As the daughter of Nova Scotia's lieutenant governor, Jones became an influential figure in Halifax society, balancing her social responsibilities with her literary ambitions.
Jones’s novels often center on strong female protagonists navigating complex societal landscapes, as seen in her acclaimed works like "The Night Hawk" and "Bubbles We Buy," which explore themes of love, greed, and personal independence against historical backdrops. Her writing frequently emphasizes a connection to Canadian identity, addressing the challenges of appealing to American audiences while maintaining her cultural roots. After the death of her father, she relocated to France, where she continued to develop her craft. Today, Jones is remembered as one of Canada’s finest writers, recognized for her strong aesthetic sensibility and the compelling portrayal of women in rugged, wilderness settings.
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Subject Terms
Alice C. Jones
Writer
- Born: August 26, 1853
- Birthplace: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died: February 23, 1933
- Place of death: Menton, France
Biography
In 1853, Alice C. Jones was born into a distinguished Canadian family. Her parents were Nova Scotians Alfred Gilpin Jones and to Margaret Wiseman Stairs Jones. She was schooled in languages, art, and literature, becoming well versed in the works of such writers as Robert Browning, William Shakespeare, George Eliot, and Henry James. From a young age, she traveled often to such places as Rome, Florence, and Venice in Italy and Cairo in Egypt. It was this wanderlust that prompted her to start writing. Indeed, Jones began her writing career by publishing travelogues.
When her father became the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Jones became a premier member of Halifax society. She ran the household at Government House and kept up with the necessary social functions, while all the time writing novels.
Her 1901 The Night Hawk: A Romance of the ’60s, which was favorably received, is set during the American Civil War in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the Southern United States; and Paris, France. The U.S. Navy blockade of the port of Halifax, which held large quantities of supplies for the South, prompts Confederate captain John Taylor Wood to bring his ship, the Tallahassee, into Halifax, where he encounters a spy, the beautiful Antoinette LeMoine.
Jones’s 1903 Bubbles We Buy also features Nova Scotian history. Set in Boston, Massachusetts; London, England; and Nova Scotia, in it a privateer becomes the richest man in Nova Scotia. In time, greed overcomes him and he becomes mad. The novel was also welcomed by the public but it received criticism for attempting to please American audiences. Jones maintained in turn that it was necessary for Canadians, who write novels to attract the American market, to court Americans and insisted that the protagonists should be American. Furthermore, she stated that while Americans enjoy reading about the Canadian wilderness they don’t care at all to hear about Canadian civilization.
Gabriel Praed’s Castle explores feminist themes. Sylvia Door, the artist protagonist, attempts to nurture her creative ideals despite the compelling, but ultimately corrupt, Parisian society. This nexus is quite common in Jones’s novels, which often feature strong women who fight for independence and respect in a masculine world, which is represented by the vigor of North America and the atrophy of European culture.
After Jones’s father died while still in office in 1906, Jones lived with her brother before moving to Menton in the south of France to be near her sister. Considered one of Canada’s finest writers, her works feature powerful female characters that live rugged lives in the Canadian wilderness instead of the city. Jones also pays close attention to art and architecture and is highly regarded for her strong aesthetic sensibility.