Fanny Kemble to Harriet St. Leger, letter composed between 29 October-3 November 1838: 'I have just finished the play of which you read the beginning in England -- my "English Tragedy" [Kemble's third play]'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet St. Leger Manuscript: Unknown
'I [Harriet Martineau] saw much of Fanny [Kemble] in America [...] She showed me the proof-sheets of her clever "Journal," and, as she chose to require my opinion of it, obtained a less flattering one than from most people [...] I was sufficiently shocked at certain passages to induce her to cancel some thirty pages.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau Manuscript: proofs
From Letter VIII, [italics]Letters on Daily Life[end italics]:
'In what spirit of self-denial, and with what noble motives acting can be undertaken as a profession, we have all learnt lately by the publication of Mrs. Fanny Kemble's autobiography [...] certainly after reading it I do not think any one can say that acting is incompatible with the highest womanly dignity, and most sincere religious purpose.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Missing Sewell Print: Book
'I have just finished Fanny Kemble's books, and when I say that I read them the next after your most charming volumes, and was amused, and on the whole much pleased with them. I am sure they are meritorious, let the critics say what they may.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Barbara Hofland Print: Book
Tuesday 19 January 1915:
'I'm reading The Idiot. I cant bear the style of it very often; at the same time, he seems to me
to have the kind of vitality in him that Scott had; only Scott merely made superb ordinary
people, & D. creates wonders, with very subtle brains, & fearful sufferings. Perhaps the
likeness to Scott partly consists in the loose, free & easy, style of the translation. I am also
reading Michelet, plodding through the dreary middle ages; & Fanny Kemble's Life. Yesterday
in the train I read The Rape of the Lock, which seems to me "supreme" -- almost superhuman
in its beauty & brilliancy -- you really can't believe such things are written down.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Virginia Woolf Print: Book
