The Collected Letters of Rosina Bulwer Lytton

In 1858, Rosina Bulwer Lytton, daughter of the early feminist Anna Wheeler, was incarcerated in a lunatic asylum by her husband, the eminent Victorian politician and novelist, Edward Bulwer Lytton. Although Rosina proved that she was sane and was released just over three weeks later, history has preserved her as Bulwer Lytton’s mad wife. In fact, she was a clever and successful writer who published thirteen novels, a memoir, and several pamphlets and broadsheets. She was also a witty and prolific correspondent and used her pen to wage a life-long vendetta against her estranged husband. After the disintegration of their marriage, Rosina wrote letters to prominent figures in which she revealed details about Edward’s mistresses and illegitimate children. She even alleged a sexual relationship between her husband and Disraeli. Her grandson compared reading her letters to ‘opening a drawer full of dead wasps. Their venom is now powerless to hurt, but they still produce a shudder’.

Over 800 of Rosina’s letters survive. This unique record reveals the innermost workings of the Victorian literary and political establishments. To date, only a fraction has been published; most remain in private collections.

This three volume edition presents newly transcribed letters from archives around the world. It will be of interest to Literature, Victorian Studies and Women’s Studies scholars, as well as those studying the History of Madness.

• Collects correspondence from archives and private collections around the world, including a major holding at Knebworth House, UK
• All letters are newly transcribed, most have not been published before, and several are previously unknown
• Full editorial apparatus includes a general introduction setting the letters in their historical context; chronology; list of Rosina Bulwer Lytton’s publications; biographical notes; genealogical charts; list of correspondents; recipient index; subject index

Sample pages

• Rosina Bulwer Lytton to Edward Bulwer Lytton 1834
• Rosina Bulwer Lytton to Fredrick Hale Thomson 1858
• Biographical Notes

Contents

List of Correspondents

Mr Ancona; George Douglas Campbell Argyll; Mr Auldjo; Charles Babbage; Mr Barnes; Mrs R K Barnes; Mrs T H Bayley; Lydia Becker; Richard Bentley; Walter Besant; Mrs De Blaquiere; Mrs Henrietta Wellington Boate; Augusta Boys; Edward Bull; William Bulwer; Edward Bulwer Lytton; Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton; William Cavendish; A E Chalon; Henry Colburn; A A Cooper; Edward George Smith-Stanley Derby; Louisa Devey; Charles Dickens; Isaac D'Israeli; Francis Hastings Doyle; Hain Friswell; William Gell; Mary Letitia Greene; Mrs Horatio Greenough; Arthur Groom; Richard Groom; William Harness; William Hartcup; Herries & Farquhar; Frederick Hodgson; Charles Osmond Hyde; Isaac Ironside; James Edwin; William Jerdan; Mrs Jermyn; Charles John Kean; Mr Leyton; William Loaden; John Copley Lyndhurst; Emily Lytton; Robert Lytton; William Melbourne; Mrs Pyke; James Rice; Dr & Mrs Roberts; Rebecca Ryves; Mr Saywell; William Shoberl; James Elishama Smith; Mr William Spurrel; Edward Henry Stanley; Lady Stepney; Frederick Hale Thomas; John Tyndall; John Watkins; Mary Anne Wyhdham Lewis

Related titles

• Silver Fork Novels, 1826–1841
• The Works of Lady Caroline Lamb
• Varieties of Women's Sensation Fiction, 1855–1890

Return to top