It’s hard to believe this is the last week of January. Next Sunday is February 1st, the beginning of black history month. The historic character I’m writing about is not African American, but she did champion the call for abolishing slavery through her book, “Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 in England in 1863. Her name was Fanny Kemble.
Fanny married Pierce Mease Butler in the 1830’s. Mr. Butler was the heir to his grandfather’s legacy which included 100’s of slaves and several plantations on Georgia’s Sea Islands. But Fanny could never get used to the treatment or even the idea of slaves. She was definitely outspoken for her time, leading to her divorce from Pierce Butler in 1849.
Fanny Kemble was an accomplished actress, an icon of the British stage to which she returned after her divorce. She held off publishing her journal for two decades so as to keep peace between herself and Pierce Butler. This book is the Englishwoman’s condemnation of slavery, vivid descriptions of her life on Southern plantations and the evil she witnessed while living there. The book caused a sensation throughout Great Britain. Fanny returned to life in the United States after the civil war when her eldest daughter, Sarah, married a prominent doctor in Philadelphia. Fanny made her home in Philadelphia and supported herself travelling up and down the East coast and Europe delivering her famous Shakesperean readings.
Truly a woman ahead of her time! This is my favorite quote from Fanny Kemble when she spoke of life in Coastal Georgia: “I should like the wild savage loneliness of the far away existence extremely if it were not for the one small item of ‘the slavery.'” Her dedication to writing in her diaries, sharing her life experiences as well as reporting on the flora and fauna to be found in her time lives on today. You can still find this book in print either on-line or through G.J. Ford here on St. Simons Island.
One Response
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driver Says:
Great site. Plenty of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
