A Truly Happy & Affectionate Family by Rosemary Poole (private press, 2008).
Rosemary Poole, who died recently at the age of 97, was a remarkable woman in her own right, a talented artist and dedicated social worker. In her retirement her research into some family papers resulted in her privately printed book, A Truly Happy and Affectionate Family. The family in question originated in the marriage of Thomas Denman, the son of a Bakewell apothecary who became a well-respected medical doctor in the late eighteenth century, and Elizabeth Brodie, the daughter of a linen draper. Their son, Thomas, became Lord Chief Justice and their twin daughters, So-phia and Margaret, both married medical men. They were Matthew Baillie, the brother of Joanna and physician to George III, and Richard, later Sir Richard, Croft, who had been Dr. Denman’s assistant and who became accoucheur to Princess Charlotte. Elizabeth’s own nephew was Sir Benjamin Brodie, a wellknown surgeon. Just as a career in medicine began to gain prestige and wealth, this family came from relatively humble eighteenth century beginnings to occupy a prominent place in nineteenth cen-tury society.
Elizabeth Denman’s diaries, which she kept after her husband’s death in 1815 when she was 75 until shortly before her death in 1833, reveal these wellknown people from the point of view of a religious and generous-hearted old lady, a grandmother, mother and aunt who clearly had the love of her family and of her servants. It is fascinating to see how such an old lady lived and coped with disability and illness in the early nineteenth century, although from a modern viewpoint, the diary can be startling. It never refers to Joanna Baillie’s writing, and possible scandals, including divorce and illegitimacy, are skated over. Rosemary Poole’s notes complement the diaries, letters and poems and the illustrations are beautifully reproduced and interesting.
This is an excellently produced book with much of interest to scholars of nineteenth century medicine, Romantic scholars, especially Baillie scholars, and those interested in nineteenth-century social and family life. There are a number of copies left and the family would be happy to send them in return for a donation to the charity MIND. Please apply to Jacqueline Mulhallen [log in to unmask]
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