Frances Rolleston: British Lady, Scholar and Writer of Mazzaroth - Paperback

by Jane S. Poole (Author)

What kind of woman perseveres for fifty years to produce one book? A woman convinced of its value to the world. Indeed, that book, Mazzaroth: The Constellations, has continued more than 150 years as an important resource on the names of the stars and their meanings. Yet, up to now the writer's own fascinating story has not been told. This book introduces Frances Rolleston, anti-slavery activist, pioneer of infant schools, painter, poet, linguist, and member of a prominent family. She rubbed shoulders with men of science and letters, kept abreast of developments in astronomy and geology, nursed cholera sufferers, and gave to the relief of famine victims so generously as to imperil her own financial well-being. She was a woman of compassion and intelligence who refused to fit into the role expected of a Victorian woman and who triumphed through faith and perseverance. After her passing, Frances' letters were collected and edited by her friend Caroline Dent. That rich resource is the source for this life story. This biography differs from most by its personal voice and thematic presentation. Generally chronological, each chapter focuses on one character trait, activity, interest or event, portraying Frances Rolleston as the author has come to know her.

Author Biography

Unlike Frances Rolleston who took fifty years to produce MAZZAROTH: THE CONSTELLATIONS, Jane took only fourteen years to produce FRANCES ROLLESTON: BRITISH LADY, SCHOLAR AND WRITER OF MAZZAROTH. The effort included two trips to England to visit the places Frances Rolleston lived. During the fourteen years, Jane wrote and published two fiction books for young teens, THE FORBIDDEN ANSWER and its sequel SECRET FRIENDS SECRET FOES, followed by FIRST SON SEVENTIETH SON, life lessons from sons in the Bible. Jane lives with her husband of 51 years on small acreage in the rainy Pacific NW of the USA. In addition to writing, she is an artist in watercolor and porcelain and has established Entrepreneurial Women Writers and Artists (EWWA) to encourage other women.