Emily Somerset essay book

Content Description

This collection contains an essay book belonging to Emily Somerset, who lived in England. Bound in contemporary morocco with Essays of Emily Somerset embossed in gilt to front cover and has decorative endpapers. Adhered to front pastedown is a contemporary gift plate reading: "E. Somerset from her cousin, C. Somerset, 1867". A later gift inscription in pencil to verso of front endpaper, "Annie Usher from her Uncle. November 28th 1923." The essay entries began in 1867 when Emily was eighteen. The manuscript contains twelve essays with decorative calligraphic head and tail pieces written over forty-five pages, with an additional three pages of recipes at the back of the book. Some essays, such as the opening title "On self culture," reflect popular trends in education regarding women's physical and mental health (including the importance of balancing classroom time with exercise). Others suggest Emily's more individual interests or perceptions of the world conveyed in essays like "Art and its effect upon us" (August 1867), while others reveal her deep interest in literature like her February 17, 1868 essay "On Books" which argues for the importance of books and the consumption of literature. Entries end in 1873, leaving the latter half of the book blank. Emily became a Wesleyan schoolmistress and married schoolteacher William James Middleton in 1879. She died in 1921. The question remains whether Emily Somerset and the later owner, Annie Usher were related in some way, as Emily's death in 1921 is quite close to Annie's receipt of the manuscript as a gift in 1923.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Purchased from Whitmore Rare Books, 18 July 2023.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No