Ann Radcliffe

Novelist

Birthday July 9, 1764

Birth Sign Cancer

Birthplace England

DEATH DATE Feb 7, 1823 (58)

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About

An English novelist known for her works of Gothic romance, she penned the classic work, The Mysteries of Udolpho, which tells the story of a young woman imprisoned by a sadistic villain.

Before Fame

Imbued with rich landscapes and careful attention to the psychic states of the characters, her suspenseful works made Radcliffe one of the most popular writers of her generation.

Trivia

She published her final work when she was thirty-two years old. She gave no explanation for giving up writing at such a young age; however, theories held that she may have either gone mad or become engaged in secret espionage work.

Family Life

A recluse from an early age, she did, however, marry William Radcliffe. The couple had no children.

Associated With

Her characters formed archetypes of Gothic fiction and were re-created in whole or in part by writers such as Charlotte Bronte and Mary Shelley.