Charlotte Smith

Date of Birth: May 4, 1749

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: October 28, 1806

Biography

Charlotte Smith was a distinguished English poet and novelist born on May 4, 1749, in London, England. She is best known for revitalizing the English sonnet form and for her poignant depictions of nature and the human condition. Smith began writing as a means to support her family after her husband was imprisoned for debt. Her first collection of poetry, “Elegiac Sonnets,” published in 1784, garnered immediate acclaim and established her as a major literary figure of her time. Throughout her career, she published several successful novels and poetry collections, including “The Emigrants” and “Beachy Head.” Despite facing numerous personal and financial hardships, Smith’s work had a lasting impact on Romantic literature and inspired future generations of poets.

5 Interesting Facts about Charlotte Smith

1. Charlotte Smith’s “Elegiac Sonnets” played a crucial role in the revival of the sonnet form in English literature.

2. She was one of the first writers to highlight social issues such as the plight of women and the poor in her works.

3. Smith’s novel “Emmeline, The Orphan of the Castle” was a significant influence on Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey.”

4. She was known for her vivid descriptions of nature, which were often inspired by the landscapes of Sussex where she lived.

5. Charlotte Smith’s writing was praised by contemporaries such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Charlotte Smith

1. “The mind which is most capable of receiving impressions from the sublime or beautiful is the most susceptible of pain and pleasure.”

2. “O Hope! thou soother sweet of human woes!”

3. “And thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid, Still first to fly where sensual joys invade.”

4. “Is there a heart that music cannot melt? Alas! how is that rugged heart forlorn.”

5. “In this wide sea of miseries, O my friend, our only hope is in ourselves.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Charlotte Smith did not achieve significant financial success during her lifetime. Her highest net worth was modest, primarily due to her persistent financial struggles and the limited earnings from her literary works.

Children

Charlotte Smith had twelve children with her husband Benjamin Smith. Despite her personal and financial hardships, she was devoted to her children and often wrote to support them. Tragically, several of her children predeceased her, and her relationship with her surviving children was often strained due to her ongoing struggles.