Letitia Elizabeth Landon
Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838) was a notable English poet and novelist who emerged from modest beginnings in Chelsea, London. After her family's financial decline, she turned to creative writing as a potential source of income. With encouragement from local editor William Jerden, Landon began publishing her poetry under the initials "L.E.L.," which gained popularity during her time. As her work evolved, she transitioned from poetry to novels, reflecting the shifting literary tastes from Romanticism to Victorianism. Despite her literary successes, Landon faced personal challenges, including financial strain as the sole provider for her family and the burden of public scrutiny regarding her private life. Her marriage to George McLean in 1838 ended tragically with her untimely death in Africa, shrouded in mystery due to the circumstances surrounding it. Landon's legacy endures, primarily recognized for her appealing poetic style that resonated with the public while mirroring the Romantic tradition. Today, she remains a figure of interest in discussions about 19th-century literature and the challenges faced by women writers of her era.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Letitia Elizabeth Landon
Poet
- Born: August 14, 1802
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: October 15, 1838
- Place of death: Cape Coast, Gold Coast, Africa
Biography
Born in the toney London neighborhood of Chelsea, Letitia Elizabeth Landon nevertheless came from people of modest means whose finances became truly straitened after her father lost nearly everything in an investment gone wrong. Landon, who had previously lived a rather cosseted life, moved to another London neighborhood, unfashionable old Brompton, where she lived with her family in relative seclusion. Creative writing, which she had pursued previously for the amusement of her parents, now became a possible source of income. Fortunately one of the Landon’s neighbors was William Jerden, editor of the weekly Literary Gazette, who agreed to publish one of Landon’s poems, which appeared under the pen name “L.” When subsequent poems proved popular, Landon became more ambitious, composing a long poem which was published as a monograph thanks to the financial support of the actress Sarah Siddons, a Landon family friend. The work sold well but the publisher failed and, as a consequence, Landon’s first major effort did not earn any money. However, Jerden continued to commission work from the young poet, now publishing her work under the initials “L.E.L.,” and soon curiosity grew as to the identity of the poet, whose effusive style suited the times.
When critics began to take exception to the sameness of her poetry, Landon began writing novels, a literary genre then gaining popularity over poetry as Romanticism gave way to Victorianism. As she labored over relatively serious literary efforts, Landon was compelled to churn out work for literary annuals, an ephemeral form intended only to sell books. By this time, Landon was the sole support for her mother’s and brother’s families. Landon lived alone in a boardinghouse after her father’s death; as a single woman living apart from her family, she was often the subject of salacious gossip linking her with various literary men. The ongoing rumors about her amours ruined her engagement to future Charles Dickens biographer John Forster.
Weary of facing life without a male protector, Landon in June, 1838, entered into an ill-fated marriage with George McLean, sailing with him immediately thereafter to the Gold Coast, Africa, where McLean served as governor of the Cape Coast settlement. She died at Cape Coast on October 15, 1838, the victim of accidental self-poisoning or, as some of the evidence surrounding her death suggests, the victim of suicide or murder. The mystery of Landon’s death was never resolved, and although she was publicly mourned by some of the most prominent poets and critics of the day, she quickly sank out of sight. Today she is remembered primarily for her ability to write poetry that superficially resembled that of the great Romantics while at the same time appealing directly to popular taste.