|
For learning and diversity of achievements Amelia Edwards has had few equals in her century. She held the degrees of L.H.D. and LL.D, was a member of the Biblical Archeological Society, the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies the Oriental Congress, and was secretary of the Egypt Exploration Fund. Edwards enjoyed three separate careers as a journalist, a novelist, and an Egyptologist. She was also an avid supporter of Woman’s Suffrage and even served at one time as vice-president of the Society for Promoting Women's Suffrage.
Amelia Edwards was born in London in 1831, the daughter of an army officer turned banker. Her mother was of Irish nobility and very well educated. In fact, Amelia received most of her education at home under her mother’s tutelage with the help of special tutors when necessary. Amelia showed promise as a writer at a very young age. Actually, her first poem, entitled “The Knights of Old” was published in a weekly journal when she was only seven years old. For several years she continued to write for the press. She then turned to music and composed several acceptable pieces. Later, she again turned to writing literature and decided to make it her profession. Among her numerous novels are: “The Ladder of Life”, “Half a Million of Money”, and “Lord Breckenburg”. “Lord Breckenburg” passed through fifteen editions.
Though she was a popular novelist, it is not her novels that are reprinted today , but her tales of travel. When she was 30 years old Amelia’s parent’s died, leaving her little reason to stay in England, so she decided to travel the world. The royalties she received for her writings were adequate to support her and enabled her to live independently and go where she wished. Amelia commenced on a series of dauntless expeditions, of which she wrote about. Her books of travel were scholarly and yet popular. Her accounts are memorable for her descriptions of her surroundings, her interest and openness towards the people and customs of other countries, and for the humor and excitement which enliven many of her experiences. She came to be known chiefly as an Egyptologist and wrote “A Thousand Miles up the Nile”, “Pharaohs”, “Fellahs”, and “Explorers”. She translated Maspero’s “Egyptian Archeology”, and wrote for the Encyclopedia Britannica on Egyptology.
In 1889, Amelia lectured in the United States. From those who heard her, she is best described as an ‘antiquarian’ - one possessing indomitable courage and will, unswerving patience and energy, and an impregnable constitution, besides the love of discovering unrevealed history.
|
| |
