Amelia Opie's Letters

Portrait of Amelia Opie

By Mark Inglis

Introduction

Amelia Opie was born Amelia Alderson on November 12, 1769, in Norwich, England. While lesser known than other 18th-century English female authors, her works, especially her early works of fiction were well known during her lifetime. The majority of her early work focused on the “notion of female virtue and the proper conduct for a woman” in fiction, as noted by Elenore TY. This focus on female empowerment in domestic fiction was also present in her most popular work The Father and Daughter which was reprinted 9 times during its run. This focus on feminist writing was also owing to Opie’s relationship with noted feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, the writer of A Vindication of the Rights of Women, (a foundational piece of feminist literature. Throughout her life, Opie would move away from her earlier radical views, and eventually became a quaker in the English “society of friends.”  

Letter from Amelia Opie to [Simon] Wilkinson

Diplomatic Transcription

Dear Sir,

On yr blank leaf

of yr blue green catalogue you

will find the pages named. [illegible deleted word] ^[there?] yr books are

which I have marked as wishing to see.

I have not had

time to look over your list properly

[Yrs?] truly —

A Opie

Address pane of the Wilkonson letter

[Mr. Wilkinson]

This is a short address on the address pane.

Analysis

This first letter is seemingly a business letter, to a colleague Simon Wilkonson, a name which is noted in the Upcott’s album and appears in the address pane on the letter's back. Because the letter is addressed to “sir” and signed off with “yours truly,” signings which do not hint at relation or friendship, one can see that this letter may be primarily focused on Business dealings. This reading is supported by the contents of the letter as Opie speaks of a catalogue of books which she is reviewing and wishing to see more of. This focus on books is understandable, because she was a prolific writer, especially in her early career, and connected with many other intellectuals in England. The basis of this letter therefore may be a request to view more of Wilkinson’s Catalogue. This may indicate his role as a bookseller. The relative untidiness of this letter, with its awkward spacing and scratched-out errors, may also indicate a level of haste on Opie’s part in writing the letter, or alternatively, a level of informality or comfort with the recipient.

Amelia Opie scrap letter

Diplomatic Transcription

With anyone but yourself — God help you!

& believe me,

with kind wishes to the [children?]

Your very affect friend

Amelia Opie —

Analysis

This second letter appears to be a fragment of an otherwise incomplete letter in the Upcott album, as it starts in the middle of a section which Opie ends by exclaiming God bless you! the reason for this fragmentary nature may be that this letter was subject to signature poaching, wherein a signature would be removed from a letter due to its apparent value. Clearly this letter seems much more personal than the previous, as Opie states her “kind wishes” and acknowledges the recipient as one for whom she is a very affectionate friend. This reading may be further supported if the final line is to be read as "kind wishes to the [children.]" Clearly, if this is the case, it indicates Opie's proximity to the individual she is writing to by feeling comfortable enough to address their children within it.

Portrait of Amelia Opie

Portrait

Not only does this portrait capture Opie as a young and beautiful woman, it also seems to pay homage to Opie's quality and legitimacy as a writer. This homage is indicated visually as Opie's image is literally placed upon a pedestal. not only this, but above the central image is a book and quill surrounded by a laurel of victory. Symbolically this image exemplifies respect for Opie's abilities.