19 Comments
User's avatar
Victoria Olsen's avatar

Fascinating— both the story of the publication and the story of her life. Thanks for writing it up so vividly.

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Glad you enjoyed it, Victoria!

Expand full comment
Andrew Rickard's avatar

I enjoyed this. Thank you.

I found a 1790 edition of the Letters ("complete in one volume") printed for John Taylor on The Internet Archive:

https://archive.org/details/b2876755x/page/n3/mode/2up

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Ooh, Thackeray's copy! How interesting.

Expand full comment
K.J. Wilsdon's avatar

I love this quote "“I am dragging my ragged remnant of life to England.” I plan to use it frequently!

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Lol!

Expand full comment
Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

https://www.istitutoalgarotti.edu.it/pagine/curiosit-ed-eventi He was a handsome, intelligent rascal.

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

The worst kind!

Expand full comment
Lucy Hearne Keane's avatar

Fascinating story and woman. It's such a pity her work was lost. Apart from the book by Becket and his pal. Copying long before photocopiers and phones!

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Can you imagine the hard work?! But, just to be clear, LMWM did publish essays and poems during her lifetime, often anonymously but sometimes with her name. I could only fit so much into the story! But you can find volumes of her essays and poetry, and more letters, too! Thanks for the comment. :)

Expand full comment
Lucy Hearne Keane's avatar

That's good to know. She was an extremely brave and intelligent woman

Expand full comment
Marco & Sabrina's avatar

Loved this, Jodi. Wonderful departure!

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Thanks guys! 🩷 You have to try something new once in a while, I guess!

Expand full comment
Ruth Stroud's avatar

What a fantastic read about a bold and talented woman way ahead of her time. Thanks, Jodi! I look forward to reading your piece on MFK Fisher.

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Thank you for the kind words Ruth! Truly one of the most fascinating women I've had the pleasure to read about...

Expand full comment
David Gemeinhardt's avatar

Fascinating from start to finish!

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Thank you, David!

Expand full comment
Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

fascinating thanks for this rare view of a lady traveller - and what a life whe had . I am going to delve deeper into her time in Italy...has anything been written about that part of her life?

Expand full comment
jodi {diaryofaladytraveler}'s avatar

Thank you Mary Jane! Her life was amazing - I only scratched the surface! There's a biography out by Jo Willets that goes into all aspects of her life (though I admit I didn't love it)...and an older one by Robert Hasbland, which is out of print and harder to find.

Expand full comment