Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany
Mary Delany (1700-1788) is particularly famous for her paper-cuttings or ‘mosaicks’ based on botanical subjects. A very lively woman of fashion, she was close to Queen Charlotte and one of the Bluestocking Ladies. She left a vivid portrait of life and society in eighteenth century England and Irelan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Firenze University Press
2014-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Early Modern Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-jems/article/view/7021 |
| _version_ | 1811264055513448448 |
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| author | Eleonora Chiavetta |
| author_facet | Eleonora Chiavetta |
| author_sort | Eleonora Chiavetta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mary Delany (1700-1788) is particularly famous for her paper-cuttings or ‘mosaicks’ based on botanical subjects. A very lively woman of fashion, she was close to Queen Charlotte and one of the Bluestocking Ladies. She left a vivid portrait of life and society in eighteenth century England and Ireland in the six volumes of her Autobiography and Letters, edited in 1861 by her descendant Lady Llanover. Her autobiography is made up of 18 letters sent to her most intimate friend, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Portland. The first letter is dated 1740, but in this, as in the following ones, Mrs. Delany narrates her past life to her friend, starting from the early years of her life, describing her unhappy marriage, financial difficulties as a widow, and family relationships. Along with these ‘autobiographical’ letters, other letters written by her to her sister Ann are introduced, which date to the periods of life Mrs. Delany is dealing with. The aim of this paper is to focus on the textual, linguistic and content differences between the two letter types, and analyse how the identity of Mary Delany is differently constructed and perceived in the explicit autobiographical letters addressed to the Duchess of Portland, and the ones written to her sister. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:56:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-172d2b6827ef4069a53b496db0092060 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2279-7149 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:56:15Z |
| publishDate | 2014-03-01 |
| publisher | Firenze University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Early Modern Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-172d2b6827ef4069a53b496db00920602022-12-22T03:18:39ZengFirenze University PressJournal of Early Modern Studies2279-71492014-03-01310.13128/JEMS-2279-7149-1417111988Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary DelanyEleonora Chiavetta0BSFM: Laboratorio editoriale OA (Responsabile)Mary Delany (1700-1788) is particularly famous for her paper-cuttings or ‘mosaicks’ based on botanical subjects. A very lively woman of fashion, she was close to Queen Charlotte and one of the Bluestocking Ladies. She left a vivid portrait of life and society in eighteenth century England and Ireland in the six volumes of her Autobiography and Letters, edited in 1861 by her descendant Lady Llanover. Her autobiography is made up of 18 letters sent to her most intimate friend, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Portland. The first letter is dated 1740, but in this, as in the following ones, Mrs. Delany narrates her past life to her friend, starting from the early years of her life, describing her unhappy marriage, financial difficulties as a widow, and family relationships. Along with these ‘autobiographical’ letters, other letters written by her to her sister Ann are introduced, which date to the periods of life Mrs. Delany is dealing with. The aim of this paper is to focus on the textual, linguistic and content differences between the two letter types, and analyse how the identity of Mary Delany is differently constructed and perceived in the explicit autobiographical letters addressed to the Duchess of Portland, and the ones written to her sister.https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-jems/article/view/7021Autobiographical LettersFamiliar LettersIdentity Construction |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Chiavetta Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany Journal of Early Modern Studies Autobiographical Letters Familiar Letters Identity Construction |
| title | Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany |
| title_full | Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany |
| title_fullStr | Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany |
| title_short | Angles of Refraction: The Letters of Mary Delany |
| title_sort | angles of refraction the letters of mary delany |
| topic | Autobiographical Letters Familiar Letters Identity Construction |
| url | https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-jems/article/view/7021 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eleonorachiavetta anglesofrefractionthelettersofmarydelany |