15 Facts About Isabel Burton

Isabel Burton, later known as Lady Burton, was an English writer, explorer and adventurer.

Isabel Burton was the wife and partner of the explorer, adventurer, and writer Sir Richard Francis Burton.

Isabel Burton grew up enmeshed in London society and attended the convent of the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, where she excelled as a writer and in theological studies.

Yet her mother opposed it on the grounds Isabel Burton was not a Christian, and had no money.

Isabel Burton's mother was eventually reconciled to the marriage; in Isabel Burton's words, "She loved him as much as her own sons".

Isabel Burton was an intelligent, resourceful and devout woman, but is always seen in the shadow of her husband, one of the most famous of all Victorians.

Isabel Burton was a strong supporter and advocate for her husband and assisted him in many of his most significant writings.

Isabel Burton credited her with being his most ardent supporter.

Isabel Burton encouraged her to write and she wrote a number of books, including a history of their travels in Syria and Palestine, as well as an autobiography, published posthumously.

Some scholars believe that Richard Francis Isabel Burton himself wrote under her name, though this is unclear.

Isabel Burton is perhaps best known for burning his papers and manuscripts after his death, including his revised translation of The Perfumed Garden, which was to be called The Scented Garden, and of which the largest part consisted of the usually unpublished final chapter dealing with pederasty, plus Burton's extensive notes on the subject.

Isabel Burton then wrote a biography of Burton in which she tried to fashion this Rabelaisian scholar-adventurer into a good Catholic, a faithful husband, and a refined and modest man.

In spite of the pain from cancer, Lady Isabel Burton finished a two-volume biography of her husband, titled Richard, The Life of Captain Sir Richard Francis Isabel Burton, which was published on 11 July 1893.

Lady Isabel Burton moved to Eastbourne in September 1895 and returned to London in March 1896.

The coffins of Sir Richard and Lady Isabel Burton can be seen through a window at the rear of the tent, which can be accessed via a short fixed ladder.