Anna Eliza Bray

Anna Eliza Bray, born Kempe in 1790, was an English author who penned historical novels and several non-fiction works. Initially aspiring to be an actress, her career was diverted by illness before her debut. She married artist Charles Alfred Stothard, with whom she traveled and wrote about her experiences. Following his tragic death in 1821, she completed his unfinished work on British funerary monuments and wrote a memoir of him. She later married Edward Atkyns Bray and began her prolific career as a historical novelist, focusing on the families and legends of Devon and Cornwall. Her novels proved popular, with collected editions appearing decades after their initial publication. Bray also supported other writers, notably Mary Colling. In her later years, she moved to London and continued to write, though a false accusation regarding the Bayeux Tapestry caused her distress. She died in 1883.

After her second marriage to Edward Atkyns Bray, Anna Eliza Bray established herself as a historical novelist, producing at least a dozen novels between 1826 and 1874. While some of her works, like 'The Talba, or the Moor of Portugal,' explored foreign settings, her most celebrated novels drew inspiration from the prominent families and historical narratives of Devon and Cornwall. Titles such as 'The Trelawneys of Trelawne' and those referencing the Pomeroy and Courtenay families resonated with readers, leading to collected editions that were reprinted for many years. Her engagement with the Southwest of England extended to 'The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy,' a series of letters to Robert Southey detailing local traditions, legends, and superstitions surrounding Tavistock, which was itself a significant work examining the folklore of the region. She also compiled tales for younger readers based on the romantic legends of Dartmoor and North Cornwall, titled 'A Peep at the Pixies, or Legends of the West.'

Born Anna Eliza Kempe, her early life included an ambition to become an actress, which was thwarted by illness before her planned debut. Her first marriage was to Charles Alfred Stothard, an artist focused on documenting funerary monuments across Great Britain. Their travels together inspired her initial published work, 'Letters written during a Tour in Normandy, Brittany, &c., in 1818.' Stothard's untimely death in 1821 while working on 'The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain' profoundly affected Bray. She took on the task of completing his unfinished project with the assistance of her brother, and also authored a memoir of her late husband. She later contributed reminiscences of his father, the artist Thomas Stothard, which were later expanded into a biography. Her personal life also involved supporting emerging talent, such as the poet Mary Colling.

In her later years, Anna Eliza Bray continued to produce literary works. She compiled three books on French history in 1870: 'The Good St. Louis and his Times,' 'The Revolt of the Protestants of the Cevennes,' and 'Joan of Arc.' Although described as pleasantly written, these works were noted for a lack of deep historical research. Her travels also inspired 'The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland, with Notes on the Route there and back,' published in 1841. Near the end of her life, Bray faced an unfounded accusation of stealing a piece of the Bayeux Tapestry during a visit in 1816, an incident that caused her considerable distress but was eventually cleared through public correspondence and media attention. Her autobiography, covering her life up to 1843, was published posthumously by her nephew, offering insights into an accomplished and enthusiastic woman, though noted for its inaccuracies.