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A review by chluless
L.E.L.: The Lost Life and Scandalous Death of Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the Celebrated “Female Byron” by Lucasta Miller
4.0
A well-researched, comprehensive and entertaining read.
However, as other reviewers have noted, there are times when analysis is obscured by assumptions about the emotional state of individuals from history.
This becomes a bigger problem when applied to readings of L.E.L’s poetry as if her work has been proven beyond doubt to reflect the specific moments Miller relates from Leticia Landon’s life.
Miller often reiterates the division between Leticia the person and L.E.L the poet, while acknowledging the purpose and consequences of her ambiguity. So these moments of unsubstantiated blurring in Miller’s biography read all the more strangely because of the earlier caution and distinctions.
My only other complaint is personal - a throwaway line about the ‘loathsome Rosamond’ Vincy from Middlemarch - but I won’t hold it against the author of an otherwise admirable book.
In fact, I loved this read so much that I’ve been persuaded to seek out Lucasta Miller’s other books.
Four stars.
However, as other reviewers have noted, there are times when analysis is obscured by assumptions about the emotional state of individuals from history.
This becomes a bigger problem when applied to readings of L.E.L’s poetry as if her work has been proven beyond doubt to reflect the specific moments Miller relates from Leticia Landon’s life.
Miller often reiterates the division between Leticia the person and L.E.L the poet, while acknowledging the purpose and consequences of her ambiguity. So these moments of unsubstantiated blurring in Miller’s biography read all the more strangely because of the earlier caution and distinctions.
My only other complaint is personal - a throwaway line about the ‘loathsome Rosamond’ Vincy from Middlemarch - but I won’t hold it against the author of an otherwise admirable book.
In fact, I loved this read so much that I’ve been persuaded to seek out Lucasta Miller’s other books.
Four stars.