Fanny Trollope: A Remarkable Life

by Teresa Ransom

Teresa Ransom is related to the descendants of Fanny Trollope, mother of Anthony Trollope, and undertook massive research to write this biography. Fanny's importance to contemporary writing and her son's writing, is only now being acknowledged. Born in Bristol in 1779, Fanny Trollope was the daughter of a country parson. She married a barrister, and produced seven children in eight years, but with her husband in financial trouble she set off for America where living was cheaper. The bazaar she set up was a disaster and she returned to England on borrowed money. "Domestic Manners of the Americans", published in 1832, was the account of those years. It took Victorian sensibilities by storm, running to four editions both in the UK and in America in its first year, and not only paid the family debts, but made Fanny, at the age of 52, a celebrity. Today, Fanny Trollope's importance in contemporary literature is beginning to be recognized, as is also the formative influence she had on her son Anthony's work.

Genres: Biography

Hardcover

First published July 27, 1995

Reviews

[Emma Glaisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I now officially love Fanny Trollope and will read anything by her I can lay my hands on. This is a good insight into her life and character which draws extensively on letters from a wide range of sources.

[Peter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read about a remarkable woman.A popular author in mid Victorian times,she is largely forgotten today.This biography shows how a feisty,intelligent,lively woman provided for her family and husband by writing a succession of novels based on her experiences to put off their debts and maintained a positive spirit.Useful today to show social conditions in GB and the US.Perhaps too many plot summaries are detailed but they do relate to life in those times so could be useful to historians.A pity that it is almost impossible to find any of her books today.This gives you a lively look at Victorian life and times.She also wrote on of the first anti slavery novels,even before Uncle Tom’Cabin.

[Caroline from Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!