Barker, Jane (1652–1732)

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Barker, Jane (1652–1732)

British novelist and poet. Name variations: (pseudonyms) Galesia, Fidelia, A Young Lady. Born May 17, 1652, in Blatherwicke, Northamptonshire, England; died Mar 29, 1732, in Saint Germain-en-Laye, France; dau. of Thomas Barker (tenant farmer) and Anne (Connock) Barker; sister of Edward Barker; never married; no children.

Early feminist and one of the 1st female British novelists, grew up in rural Lincolnshire and was assured education through Royalist brother's encouragement and tutoring, becoming one of the rare, educated women of the 17th century; moved to London with mother after death of brother and father, who had gone to battle on behalf of Charles I against the usurpation of William III of Orange; because of Catholic sympathies, fled to France with exiled court of James II; returned to England (1713) and began publishing; works include Poetical Recreations: Consisting of Original Poetry Songs, Odes & c. With Several New Translations (1688), Love Intrigues; or, the history of the amours of Bosvil and Galesia (1713), Exilius, or, The Banish'd Roman (1715), The Christian Pilgrimage (1718), The Entertaining Novels of Mrs. Jane Barker (1719), A Patch-Work Screen for the Ladies (1723); Lining of the Patch-Work Screen (1726) and The Galesia Trilogy and Selected Manuscript Poems of Jane Barker (1997).

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