Felicia Hemans (1793-1835), poet

Mrs. Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793-1835), born at 118 Duke Street, Liverpool, and later a resident of Wavertree, gained enormous popularity with her romantic poetry primarily about nature, the picturesque, childhood innocence, travels abroad, liberty, and the heroic. "Casabianca", which begins "The boy stood on the burning deck", is probably today her most famous poem.

Thanks to Steve Horton for his post correcting the location of Mrs Hemans' birthplace.

Chris

Hi Chris, as far as I knew Felicia was born at 118 Duke Street then lived in Wavertree later in life (in a house that's site is now occupied by a garage). I hope Kev wont reprimand me for spamming as I post a link to another of my sites that is now well overdue an overhaul

http://www.geocities.com/stevenhorto...liverpool.html

Do they still recite "Land of the Pilgroim Fathers" at Thanksgiving?

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Originally Posted by SteH

Hi Chris, as far as I knew Felicia was born at 118 Duke Street then lived in Wavertree later in life (in a house that's site is now occupied by a garage). I hope Kev wont reprimand me for spamming as I post a link to another of my sites that is now well overdue an overhaul

http://www.geocities.com/stevenhorto...liverpool.html

Do they still recite "Land of the Pilgroim Fathers" at Thanksgiving?

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Hi Steve

You are possibly righter than I am. I remember in Robert Griffiths' The History of the Royal and Ancient Park of Toxteth (1997) he spoke about her living in Wavertree and I suppose I assumed she was born there as well. I have amended the above post to correct it according to your information. See also a nice portrait of Mrs. Hemans at http://utopia.utexas.edu/project/por...x.html?img=181

"Land of the Pilgrim Fathers" may be recited at Thanksgiving in some places in the US at Thanksgiving though I have not heard it.

Thanks for the link to your literary Liverpool site, Steve.

Is the reputed smallest house in England still in Wavertree?

Chris

The frontage of what was the smallest house is still there, although it has now been incorporated into the Cock and Bottle pub. It has been mentioned elsehere on this forum.

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2144

The current smallest house in Britain is in Conwy, North wales - measuring just 1.8m in width.

Nice photographs, Steve, thanks. I have a B&W photograph of the Monks Well at Wavertree with a couple of Liverpool tykes on it. At first I thought that was my photograph and had to look twice at it to make sure!

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge

Mrs. Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793-1835), born at 118 Duke Street, Liverpool, and later a resident of Wavertree, gained enormous popularity with her romantic poetry primarily about nature, the picturesque, childhood innocence, travels abroad, liberty, and the heroic. "Casabianca", which begins "The boy stood on the burning deck", is probably today her most famous poem.


Chris

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We used to say:
(ahem)

The Boy stood on the burning deck
his lip was all a-quiver
he gave a cough
his leg fell off
and floated down the river.
Bu-bum:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sweetpatooti

We used to say:
(ahem)

The Boy stood on the burning deck
his lip was all a-quiver
he gave a cough
his leg fell off
and floated down the river.
Bu-bum:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

---

Yes that's it, thanks for adding that parody version of Mrs Hemans' poem. Fun stuff.

Chris

There is a Felicia Hemans memorial in St Asaph Cathedral, North Wales. See attached photos. I'm not aware of one in Liverpool but would be pleased to be shown to be wrong. Many Liverpool writers have drifted into oblivion. Who thinks of Hall Caine or Mrs Oliphant as Liverpool authors

Quote:

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Originally Posted by taffy

There is a Felicia Hemans memorial in St Asaph Cathedral, North Wales. See attached photos. I'm not aware of one in Liverpool but would be pleased to be shown to be wrong. Many Liverpool writers have drifted into oblivion. Who thinks of Hall Caine or Mrs Oliphant as Liverpool authors

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Thanks, Taffy, for sharing those pics with us. As for Hall Caine (1853 - 1931), it seems that he is thought of more now as an Isle of Man writer rather than a Liverpool writer. He was also a friend for a time of Jack the Ripper suspect, Dr. Francis Tumblety, a quack American doctors who was based in Liverpool in the 1870's.

All my best

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge

Thanks, Taffy, for sharing those pics with us. As for Hall Caine (1853 - 1931), it seems that he is thought of more now as an Isle of Man writer rather than a Liverpool writer. He was also a friend for a time of Jack the Ripper suspect, Dr. Francis Tumblety, a quack American doctors who was based in Liverpool in the 1870's.

All my best

Chris

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Perhaps it's time for Liverpool to reclaim her sons !!!! (and daughters). I suspect Hall Caine spent as much time in Liverpool as Felicia Hemans. In terms of book sales, he was certainly one of the most successful late Victorian authors but whose writings are now largely forgotten.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sweetpatooti

We used to say:
(ahem)

The Boy stood on the burning deck
his lip was all a-quiver
he gave a cough
his leg fell off
and floated down the river.
Bu-bum:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

---

Apart from the original that is the most polite version I've heard.:037:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by taffy

Perhaps it's time for Liverpool to reclaim her sons !!!! (and daughters). I suspect Hall Caine spent as much time in Liverpool as Felicia Hemans. In terms of book sales, he was certainly one of the most successful late Victorian authors but whose writings are now largely forgotten.

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It would be nice to think our local paper who run some stories on great Liverpudlians instead of the crap we have to endure.She would be such a worthy person,this would help restore pride in our great city.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paul D

It would be nice to think our local paper who run some stories on great Liverpudlians instead of the crap we have to endure.She would be such a worthy person,this would help restore pride in our great city.

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There was an excellent write up recently in the Liverpool Echo about the life of JOSEPHINE BUTLER. She was one of the 3 most important women in 19th C England and lived in Park Rd Dingle Toxteth for about 25 years. She was interested in social justice and education for women and played an important role both nationally and internationally. Along side her I would place another Liverpool worthy, her contemporary, ANN CLOUGH. Anne was sister of the Liverpool poet Arthur Hugh Clough.