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A review by erboe501
L.E.L.: The Lost Life and Scandalous Death of Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the Celebrated Female Byron by Lucasta Miller
4.0
It was refreshing to read a biography and poetry analysis, since I've mostly read fiction or personal essays since grad school.
Following Miller's commentary was enjoyable and rewarding, although I believe we should always be careful when reading literary works autobiographically. Miller makes a strong argument for how LEL used her poetic voice to express a façade of her identity. But sometimes Miller extrapolated about Letitia's biographical facts based on the poetry.
In many ways Letitia's life was frustrating to read about, because she was sidelined and undermined so often because of her gender. Her relationship with her publisher and lover Jerden was maddening. And the double standards for liberated women versus men, while nothing new to read about, still left me indignant. I wasn't very familiar with the literary world of the 1820s and 30s, so I also enjoyed filling in that gap in my British Lit knowledge.
Not too heavily academic. And very dramatic in some places because Letitia's life was rather scandalous.
Following Miller's commentary was enjoyable and rewarding, although I believe we should always be careful when reading literary works autobiographically. Miller makes a strong argument for how LEL used her poetic voice to express a façade of her identity. But sometimes Miller extrapolated about Letitia's biographical facts based on the poetry.
In many ways Letitia's life was frustrating to read about, because she was sidelined and undermined so often because of her gender. Her relationship with her publisher and lover Jerden was maddening. And the double standards for liberated women versus men, while nothing new to read about, still left me indignant. I wasn't very familiar with the literary world of the 1820s and 30s, so I also enjoyed filling in that gap in my British Lit knowledge.
Not too heavily academic. And very dramatic in some places because Letitia's life was rather scandalous.