Mary Howitt (1799-1888)

Mary Howitt was an English poet most well known for her poem 'The Spider and the Fly' first published in 1829. she collaborated with her husband, the historian William Howitt, and together they wrote over 180 books. Mary was interested in Scandanavian literature and learned Swedish and Danish. She championed the Swedish feminist writer Fredrika Bremer and translated her novels into English. She also translated several of Hans Christian Anderson's stories. 

"I presume the application from America refers to the

works of Miss Bremer's on the Holy Land…"

In her letter written in 1862, most likely to Sampson Low, Mary Howitt refers to works by the Swedish author Fredrika Bremer (1801-1865) written about the Holy Land and Greece. It appears she is in the process of translating them. She also mentions the publishers Mr Blackett (of Hurst and Blackett) and Messrs Harper & Co in her letter. Bremer's book 'Travels in the Holy Land' translated by Mary Howitt, was published by Hurst & Blackett in 1862. 

View Mary Howitt's letter [opens in a new window]

Image Rights: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo