14 Facts About Clara Reeve

Clara Reeve was an English novelist best known for the Gothic novel The Old English Baron.

Clara Reeve wrote an innovative history of prose fiction, The Progress of Romance.

Clara Reeve's first work was a translation from Latin, at the time a language unusual for a woman to learn.

Clara Reeve was a near-contemporary of the bluestockings ladies of Elizabeth Montague's circle.

Clara Reeve was born in Ipswich, one of the eight children of Reverend William Reeve MA, Rector of Freston and of Kirton, Suffolk, and perpetual curate of St Nicholas, Ipswich.

Clara Reeve made me read Rapin's History of England; the information it gave made amends for its dryness.

Clara Reeve published at least 24 volumes over a 33-year career as an author.

The first edition, entitled The Old English Baron, was dedicated to the daughter of Samuel Richardson, who is said to have helped Clara Reeve to revise and correct it.

Clara Reeve wrote an epistolary novel, The School for Widows, followed by Plans of Education, whose focus was on issues of female education.

Clara Reeve seems to have managed her publishing career personally, rather than relying on male relations to deal with publishers on her behalf.

Clara Reeve led a retiring life and left little biographical material.

Clara Reeve died in Ipswich and was buried, as she wished, in the churchyard of St Stephen's, next to her friend the Reverend Derby.

Secondly, Clara Reeve sought to find an appropriate formula for ensuring that fiction is believable and coherent.

Clara Reeve spurned specific aspects of Walpole's style, such as his tendency to blend in humour or comedy that diminishes the Gothic tale's ability to induce fear.