OAM- A Tale, For Gentle and Simple

Dearest Janeite-

Once a month (or so), I would love to share with you a writer you may not have any clue about, but who wrote during the same time period or might have been an influence on our fair Jane. For my first story, I turn to "A Tale, For Gentle and Simple" written by an anonymous authoress. This particular novel can be found in full text at The Chawton House Library site here.

So, what is it about? This tale follows the life of a mysterious babe who happens to be found in the middle of a hay-cock and the friends she makes along her journey to womanhood. Full of mysteries, and quite a few spots of humor, I would give this story a good 4 out of 5 stars for it's well rounded character sketches and moments of giggling aloud.

So, what do we know about our anonymous author?

Well, the opening dedication is to Maria Edgeworth (sometimes referred to as the Irish Jane Austen), and we see Edgeworth's influence in the writer's remarks upon the proper way to educate children. Incidentally, "A Tale, For Gentle and Simple" was printed for a Rowland Hunter in 1815, as was Edgeworth's 1815 printing of "Education" (written with her father and previously published in 1801).

While we do not have a name for our writer, we might assume that she lived (or was at least experienced with) towns north of London. All of the cities she refers to  (Doncaster, Botany-Bay for criminals, Netherby, etc.) are real. We can also imagine that some experience in farming life might explain her descriptions.

There is a reference to Samuel Johnson on page 62, with Sir Thomas speaking of "Doctor What's-his-name" with his "love-tales." Like our fair Jane, this author was also an ardent fan of Samuel Richardson. Early on, there is an allusion to Sir Charles Grandison and a later reference to Pamela from Richardson's epistolary novel (novels written in letters) "Pamela: or, Virtue Rewarded." Finally, there is a quote by John Dryden to open this small, country town tale.