Description
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Harriette Campbell’, addressed “My dear Sir”, profuse thanks for the valuable gift, remembrance of a charming evening, recollections of the discussion of “the chief enjoyment of having written a book”. 3 pp. 7 x 4 inches, second leaf neatly laid down, fine. Chelsea College, Saturday Morning, undated. Uncommon. Harriette Campbell (1817 – 1841), Scottish novelist.. Campbell’s first novel, The Only Daughter: A Domestic Story, was published in 1839, but it was her second, The Cardinal Virtues, or, Morals and Manners Connected, that made her reputation. By this time she had spent just one winter in London society before she went abroad to regain her health. This did not happen and she died from influenza and was buried in Switzerland in 1841. This was the same year as her best novel was published. “I remember what you called the chief enjoyment of having written a book & should like nothing more than the pleasure of discussing Margaret & Albert & Villepoi with you as if they were real men & women …”