C M Braysher

Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (1831–1892) was a versatile English writer and traveler, achieving notable success as a novelist, journalist, and eventually, a pioneering Egyptologist. Her literary career began early, with poems and stories published in her youth, leading to novels like "Barbara's History" and "Lord Brackenbury," as well as the popular ghost story "The Phantom Coach." Edwards also possessed artistic talents and a passion for music, though health issues and parental disapproval influenced her career path. Her travels, particularly a significant journey through the Dolomites, inspired her writing and fostered a sense of dissatisfaction with mundane life. This dissatisfaction, coupled with a profound fascination with Egypt, led her to extensively tour the country. Her experiences there highlighted the threats to ancient monuments, prompting her to dedicate herself to their preservation.

Edwards's dedication to Egyptology culminated in her co-founding the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1882, an organization dedicated to the research and preservation of Egyptian antiquities. She tirelessly promoted the Fund, largely abandoning other writing pursuits to focus on this cause. Her efforts in Egyptology earned her the respected title "Godmother of Egyptology." Beyond her academic contributions, Edwards's personal life was marked by close relationships with women, including her long-term companion Ellen Drew Braysher. Her legacy includes a significant bequest to University College London to establish a Chair of Egyptology, profoundly influencing the field.

Born in London in 1831, Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards displayed prodigious literary talent from a young age, publishing her first poem at seven and a story at twelve. She contributed to various periodicals and developed artistic skills, even drawing the attention of George Cruikshank. However, her parents discouraged her artistic aspirations, viewing them as less respectable. Edwards also pursued music, composing and performing, until a bout of typhus in 1849 affected her voice, leading her to abandon the pursuit. Her early education was conducted at home, and she also engaged with subjects like mathematics and developed skills in pistol shooting and riding.

Edwards transitioned to a more focused writing career in the 1850s, with her novel "My Brother's Wife" marking her first full-length work. Her reputation was solidified by "Barbara's History" (1864), a novel exploring bigamy, and later by "Lord Brackenbury" (1880), which achieved multiple editions. She was meticulous in her research, dedicating significant time to the settings and backgrounds of her works. Edwards also gained recognition for her ghost stories, notably "The Phantom Coach" (1864). Her travels profoundly influenced her writing; a journey through the Dolomites, described in "A Midsummer Ramble in the Dolomites" (1873), led her to view civilized life as a "dead-level World of Commonplace."

Following her transformative journey in the Dolomites, Edwards toured Egypt with Lucy Renshaw in 1873-1874, developing a deep fascination with the country's ancient and modern cultures. This expedition, documented in her acclaimed book "A Thousand Miles up the Nile" (1877), exposed her to the growing threats facing Egyptian antiquities. Motivated by a desire to protect these sites, Edwards became a vocal advocate for research and preservation. In 1882, she co-founded the Egypt Exploration Fund, an organization she actively supported as joint Honorary Secretary until her death, significantly shifting her focus from general writing to Egyptology.

Edwards's personal life involved significant emotional attachments to women. She lived for many years with Ellen Drew Braysher, her companion until their deaths in 1892. A notable relationship also occurred with Ellen Byrne. Edwards's papers reveal insights into these connections, with one relationship being documented by John Addington Symonds. Her legacy extends beyond her writings; she bequeathed her extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities and her library to University College London, establishing a Chair of Egyptology that greatly advanced the discipline. Her grave, alongside Ellen Drew Braysher's, is recognized as a landmark in English LGBT history.