In 2008, I presented at the CFW Society Meeting (I spoke of Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs) and while the members of the society weren't fans of my man Henry James, they said they forgave me and welcomed me with open arms. Lovely group and a wonderful time sharing our love for Woolson and her work.
Really enjoyed reading your piece - and the pictures are fantastic! You look so happy. Thank you for sharing them.
I set this one aside to come back to when I could enjoy it. I didn't know I was going to get an answer to the seemingly unanswerable question of whether Woolson took her life. I have allowed myself to entertain the possibility that she was washing exterior windows in a fit of DIY let-in-the-light impatience (though suicide seemed more probable), but I can almost feel how it must have been to stand in the room and imagine the motions she had to take. What a moment!
I like to read Woolson and Bret Harte together because they were close in age, publishing at the same time, and taking such very different approaches to the short story genre (both landing exclusive magazine contracts; both envied by James). The magazine story was still emergent enough in the 1860s that they had room to invent. Other people read Woolson and James together, but that tucks her under his shadow. Reading Woolson and Harte allows them both to stand separately, having nothing to do with each other, but reaching popularity with - one imagines - at least some of the same magazine readers. I like to ponder what this tells me about 19th century magazine readers. I'm not yet sure of the answer, and it's not a life mission to find out. Just a puzzle.
Please put me on your contact list for future trips. Though it may be a few years before I can make one, you never know.
Hi Tara—Yes, it was an unbelievable moment. I wish I’d had it before I wrote my book. Oh well. Putting Harte and Woolson side-by-side is indeed interesting! Putting you on the list as well!
Hello, Anne! Stella Clifford Gray’s daughter, Camilla, here! We met briefly at The Mount a few years ago?
Anyway, I knew of “Miss Woolson”, as my mother always referred to her, from that same mother….Woolson was the subject of her doctoral dissertation (as you know).
I LOVED reading about the tour you and your colleague led & would be very interested in a future opportunity.
Loved this post, and thanks for sharing the links to Woolson's short stories! I can't wait to read them. It certainly sounds like I should read her book Anne, too.
What a wonderful trip! I didn’t know of Woolson before you. I am interested partly because of her writing’s resemblance to George Eliot’s whom I love. I also am really intrigued by her portrayal of women’s “real” emotions. Thank you! And yes, put me on the list for tours of women writers:). I have no idea if I could swing it, but I want to be on the list:)
Edith Wharton spent a lot of time in Italy (with the Bourgets, Vernon Lee, can't remember who else). Did her path ever cross with Woolson? Looking forward to picking up Anne. I always hear about Mackinac Island out here in the Midwest, and it will be fun to read a novel about it from Wharton's time.
Thank you, excellent post, Anne! I adore Woolson. Very moving to hear your discovery about her death. And thank you for your scholarship. It was integral to my grad decisions to pursue 19th-century women writers. I started a paper about depression, music and Woolson's fiction long ago... motivated to return to it. I'm thrilled you're on Substack! Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Thank you, Sarah! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. And to hear that my scholarship motivated you to study 19th-c. women writers! I hope you get that paper done. :)
I'm so excited about this trip and the insights you've gained. My! being at the window and having your epiphany about her death. How astonishing that must have been.
What a perfect use of your knowledge! I can imagine other tours, starting with Kay Boyle or Dora Marr. All those Viking ships need to know about you and your tours. You sound like you've found the perfect co-leader, too.
I feel privileged to have been on the Woolson journey with you all these years.
You have definitely inspired me to read Wilson’s short stories. All I knew about her before reading this is that she was a friend of Henry James. Thank you for this illuminating essay.
I had never heard of Constance Woolson, but you've definitely inspired me to check out her work. And how awesome is it that you rescued her from obscurity!
Thanks so much. This was a moving read, and will be reading some of her stories because of the access you have created here. I had heard of her before, but never read her — knew of her mostly through Colm Toibin's novel on Henry James, which I liked very much. But I think also maybe — is there a collection of Alice James's letters that include correspondance between them? I have a vague memory of reading something that that. Or maybe I just read an article about AJ's letters…
Anne--What a fabulous post to read this morning. Such a pleasure. Makes me sad that I gave away my copy of your Woolson bio (to a friend writing about James!) but I will get another & the Library of America collection. Looks like an incredible trip--please put me on your contact list for future Italian adventures. Thanks!
I love East Angels and her short stories.
In 2008, I presented at the CFW Society Meeting (I spoke of Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs) and while the members of the society weren't fans of my man Henry James, they said they forgave me and welcomed me with open arms. Lovely group and a wonderful time sharing our love for Woolson and her work.
Really enjoyed reading your piece - and the pictures are fantastic! You look so happy. Thank you for sharing them.
That’s great, Kerry! I’m so glad you found my piece. The CFW Society is an amazing group of women!
I set this one aside to come back to when I could enjoy it. I didn't know I was going to get an answer to the seemingly unanswerable question of whether Woolson took her life. I have allowed myself to entertain the possibility that she was washing exterior windows in a fit of DIY let-in-the-light impatience (though suicide seemed more probable), but I can almost feel how it must have been to stand in the room and imagine the motions she had to take. What a moment!
I like to read Woolson and Bret Harte together because they were close in age, publishing at the same time, and taking such very different approaches to the short story genre (both landing exclusive magazine contracts; both envied by James). The magazine story was still emergent enough in the 1860s that they had room to invent. Other people read Woolson and James together, but that tucks her under his shadow. Reading Woolson and Harte allows them both to stand separately, having nothing to do with each other, but reaching popularity with - one imagines - at least some of the same magazine readers. I like to ponder what this tells me about 19th century magazine readers. I'm not yet sure of the answer, and it's not a life mission to find out. Just a puzzle.
Please put me on your contact list for future trips. Though it may be a few years before I can make one, you never know.
Hi Tara—Yes, it was an unbelievable moment. I wish I’d had it before I wrote my book. Oh well. Putting Harte and Woolson side-by-side is indeed interesting! Putting you on the list as well!
Love the sky.
Hello, Anne! Stella Clifford Gray’s daughter, Camilla, here! We met briefly at The Mount a few years ago?
Anyway, I knew of “Miss Woolson”, as my mother always referred to her, from that same mother….Woolson was the subject of her doctoral dissertation (as you know).
I LOVED reading about the tour you and your colleague led & would be very interested in a future opportunity.
Thanks!
Hello Camilla! It’s wonderful to hear from you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And I will definitely add you to our growing list. :)
Loved this post, and thanks for sharing the links to Woolson's short stories! I can't wait to read them. It certainly sounds like I should read her book Anne, too.
Thank you, Nancy! So glad you enjoyed it. :)
Hi Anne,
What a wonderful trip! I didn’t know of Woolson before you. I am interested partly because of her writing’s resemblance to George Eliot’s whom I love. I also am really intrigued by her portrayal of women’s “real” emotions. Thank you! And yes, put me on the list for tours of women writers:). I have no idea if I could swing it, but I want to be on the list:)
Will do, Emily! I’m happy to introduce you to Woolson. :)
Thank you and thank you.
Edith Wharton spent a lot of time in Italy (with the Bourgets, Vernon Lee, can't remember who else). Did her path ever cross with Woolson? Looking forward to picking up Anne. I always hear about Mackinac Island out here in the Midwest, and it will be fun to read a novel about it from Wharton's time.
I don’t believe their paths ever crossed, unfortunately. :(
Thank you, excellent post, Anne! I adore Woolson. Very moving to hear your discovery about her death. And thank you for your scholarship. It was integral to my grad decisions to pursue 19th-century women writers. I started a paper about depression, music and Woolson's fiction long ago... motivated to return to it. I'm thrilled you're on Substack! Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Thank you, Sarah! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. And to hear that my scholarship motivated you to study 19th-c. women writers! I hope you get that paper done. :)
I'd never heard of her -- infuriating how so many women writers have been excluded from "the canon." Thank you!
Yes, indeed! Too many.
I'm so excited about this trip and the insights you've gained. My! being at the window and having your epiphany about her death. How astonishing that must have been.
What a perfect use of your knowledge! I can imagine other tours, starting with Kay Boyle or Dora Marr. All those Viking ships need to know about you and your tours. You sound like you've found the perfect co-leader, too.
I feel privileged to have been on the Woolson journey with you all these years.
Yes!
Aw, thank you!! It’s been quite a journey, and so wonderful to have you along. ❤️❤️
You have definitely inspired me to read Wilson’s short stories. All I knew about her before reading this is that she was a friend of Henry James. Thank you for this illuminating essay.
Wonderful! Just what I hoped. :)
I hadn't heard of her. Thank you for everything you have done and are still doing to keep her work findable.
I'm happy to introduce her to you! And thank you for hosting the lovely reading group last week. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I had never heard of Constance Woolson, but you've definitely inspired me to check out her work. And how awesome is it that you rescued her from obscurity!
I tried my damnedest! I wish more people knew her still, so I’m still proselytizing.
Thanks so much. This was a moving read, and will be reading some of her stories because of the access you have created here. I had heard of her before, but never read her — knew of her mostly through Colm Toibin's novel on Henry James, which I liked very much. But I think also maybe — is there a collection of Alice James's letters that include correspondance between them? I have a vague memory of reading something that that. Or maybe I just read an article about AJ's letters…
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Linnesby! She ands Alice James knew each other but there are no letters, alas.
Ah, it must have been a different correspondent, then. Looking forward to reading some of the stories.
I did not know about Woolson and fascinated to learn more about her and read her novels. Thanks!
Yay! I'm so glad I piqued your interest. Let me know what you read and what you think. :)
Anne--What a fabulous post to read this morning. Such a pleasure. Makes me sad that I gave away my copy of your Woolson bio (to a friend writing about James!) but I will get another & the Library of America collection. Looks like an incredible trip--please put me on your contact list for future Italian adventures. Thanks!
Hi Caroline--Will do, Caroline! It would be wonderful to meet up in Italy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post!