Augusta Webster, 1837-1894
Augusta Davies was born in Dorset in 1837, the daughter
of a naval officer. She pursued an unusually progressive course of education
for a young girl, studying Greek–ostensibly to help a younger brother–and
taking a particular interest in Greek drama. During her long career as
a writer, she published more than a dozen volumes of verse, as well as
many social and political essays concern-ing women's rights and responsibilities.
In 1863 Augusta married Thomas Webster, a fellow (and later law lecturer) at Trinity College, Cambridge. They had one daughter. Much of her work published thereafter concerns the difficulties and complexities of forming a happy marital union.
Webster was the first female writer to hold elective office. She worked tirelessly for women’s suffrage, and in 1879 and 1885 was elected to the London School Board.
Yu-Pe-Ya's Lute; a Chinese Tale in English Verse.
London: Macmillan, 1874. Presentation copy inscribed by the author.
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Copyright
© 2002 Division of Rare & Manuscript
Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853
Phone Number: (607) 255-3530. Fax Number: (607) 255-9524
For
reference questions, send mail to:
rareref@cornell.edu
If you have questions or comments about the site, send mail to: webmaster.
