Geraldine Jewsbury
Geraldine Jewsbury (1812-1880) was an English novelist and literary critic known for her contributions to feminist literature in the 19th century. Born in Measham, Derbyshire, her family moved to Manchester after her mother's death, where her sister Maria Jane took on a maternal role. Jewsbury developed an early interest in journalism, influenced by her father's profession and social connections with notable literary figures like William Wordsworth and the Carlyles.
Throughout her literary career, she served as a book reviewer for the Athenaeum for thirty years, and held unique positions in publishing that were rare for women of her time. Her works often featured strong female characters and explored themes of feminism, as evidenced in her novels such as "The Half-Sisters" and "Marian Withers," which reflected her social and political views. Despite facing criticism for her bold topics and unconventional style, Jewsbury's writing shed light on the complexities of women's lives. Although she is not widely recognized as a major figure of her era, her innovative narratives and perspectives remain significant within the context of feminist literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Geraldine Jewsbury
Author
- Born: August 22, 1812
- Birthplace: Measham, Derbyshire, England
- Died: September 23, 1880
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Geraldine Jewsbury was born in 1812 in Measham, Derbyshire, England. Her father, Thomas, was an established merchant and insurance agent. At age seven, the family relocated to Manchester, England, and Jewsbury’s mother died shortly after the move. Jewsbury’s older sister, Maria Jane, who was nineteen at the time of her mother’s death, inherited the task of raising Geraldine and their four brothers. One of the chores involved in the household was to read their father newspapers, instilling an importance of journalism within Jewsbury at an early age.
Jewsbury’s family was well connected and had salons with the poet William Wordsworth and writers Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle. Jewsbury developed a lifelong friendship with Jane Welsh Carlyle, telling Carlyle of her wild romances which were key to Jewsbury’s writing and creativity. In 1849, Jewsbury began her thirty-year stint as a book reviewer for Athenaeum. During her literary career, she also worked as a reader for several publishing companies, positions no other woman held at the time.
Jewsbury’s eccentric lifestyle and cultural influences came through in her writing. Her contributions to the regional novel are evident in her attention to the story’s environment and her realistic writing style. In her first novel, Zoe: The History of Two Lives (1845), Jewsbury was criticized for her indelicacy by writing about a Catholic’s priest temptation for Zoe, a young girl. Jewsbury’s next novel, The Half-Sisters, served as a launch pad for her feminist ideals. The story centers on two half-sisters, the choices they make in life, and the different ways they are treated by men because of their looks and personalities. Jewsbury’s third novel, Marian Withers, was originally published as a serial in the Manchester Examiner and Times. Set in a struggling mill, the story allows Jewsbury to express her social, economic, and political views, and to draw from her memories of her father and his mill business. Jewsbury also wrote two childrens’ books, The History of an Adopted Child, and Angelo: Or, The Pine Forests in the Alps.
Jewsbury’s health and eyesight started to decline in 1868, and she was diagnosed with cancer in 1878. She died two years later. While Jewsbury is not considered a pivotal author of the nineteenth century, she serves as a prime example of the eccentricity that dominated the literature of the time. Through prominent female characters and feminist themes, Jewsbury made a lasting, although at times overlooked, contribution to feminist literature.