Anne Knight (children's writer)
Encyclopedia
For this author's namesake, the social reformer, see Anne Knight
.
Anne Knight (born Anne Waspe in Woodbridge, Suffolk
on 28 October 1792, died there on 11 December 1860) was a Quaker
children's writer and educationalist.
, but returned to Woodbridge after his early death.
By 1826, Anne Knight was keeping a Woodbridge school. She was a friend of the poet Bernard Barton
, who lodged with her and her sisters, and she is therefore mentioned several times in letters to him from Charles Lamb
: "Your book... we cannot thank you for more sincerely than for the introduction you favoured us with to Anne Knight." "So A. K. keeps a school... she teaches nothing wrong, I'll answer for't."
She died at her Woodbridge home on 11 December 1860 and was interred in the Quaker burial ground there.
(1786–1862), a campaigner for women's rights. They include School-Room Lyrics (1846), and probably Poetic Gleanings (1827), Mornings in the Library (London, c. 1828, with an introductory poem by Bernard Barton), Mary Gray. A tale for little girls (also including a Barton verse, London, 1831), and Lyriques Français: pour la jeunesse. Morceaux choisis par A. K. (3rd e., Norwich, 1869).
Knight's verses are well crafted and her stories well told, but they exhibit a didacticism that does not suit modern tastes: "'Though these animals [rabbits] are so small,' continued Mrs. Gray, 'they are found very serviceable to man. Their flesh is good to eat, and the soft grey fur, growing close to the skin, is made into hats, when mixed with the beautiful fine down of the beaver, a curious animal found in North America'" (Mary Gray, p. 11).
Anne Knight
Anne Knight was a social reformer noted as a pioneer of feminism.-Family background:Anne Knight was the daughter of William Knight , a Chelmsford grocer and his wife Priscilla Allen...
.
Anne Knight (born Anne Waspe in Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
on 28 October 1792, died there on 11 December 1860) was a Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
children's writer and educationalist.
Life
Anne was the eldest of the eight children of Jonathan Waspe (c. 1756–1818), a leather cutter, and his wife Phebe Gibbs (1761–1851). She married a cousin and fellow Quaker James Knight (1794–1820) of SouthwarkSouthwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, but returned to Woodbridge after his early death.
By 1826, Anne Knight was keeping a Woodbridge school. She was a friend of the poet Bernard Barton
Bernard Barton
-External links:* at Find-A-Grave...
, who lodged with her and her sisters, and she is therefore mentioned several times in letters to him from Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb was an English essayist, best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children's book Tales from Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, Mary Lamb . Lamb has been referred to by E.V...
: "Your book... we cannot thank you for more sincerely than for the introduction you favoured us with to Anne Knight." "So A. K. keeps a school... she teaches nothing wrong, I'll answer for't."
She died at her Woodbridge home on 11 December 1860 and was interred in the Quaker burial ground there.
Writings
Anne Knight was the author of several children's books, some of which have been erroneously attributed to her Quaker namesake and contemporary Anne KnightAnne Knight
Anne Knight was a social reformer noted as a pioneer of feminism.-Family background:Anne Knight was the daughter of William Knight , a Chelmsford grocer and his wife Priscilla Allen...
(1786–1862), a campaigner for women's rights. They include School-Room Lyrics (1846), and probably Poetic Gleanings (1827), Mornings in the Library (London, c. 1828, with an introductory poem by Bernard Barton), Mary Gray. A tale for little girls (also including a Barton verse, London, 1831), and Lyriques Français: pour la jeunesse. Morceaux choisis par A. K. (3rd e., Norwich, 1869).
Knight's verses are well crafted and her stories well told, but they exhibit a didacticism that does not suit modern tastes: "'Though these animals [rabbits] are so small,' continued Mrs. Gray, 'they are found very serviceable to man. Their flesh is good to eat, and the soft grey fur, growing close to the skin, is made into hats, when mixed with the beautiful fine down of the beaver, a curious animal found in North America'" (Mary Gray, p. 11).