Lifespan: 1806-1862
Nationality: English
Genres:
Types of Work: Novels, poetry, travel literature, historical works
Contemporaries: Jane Porter
Other Names:
Style: Brilliant descriptions, flowing dialogue
Bio: Julia Pardoe was the second daughter of Major Thomas Pardoe, a brilliant military officer who participated in the Battle of Waterloo. She was born on December 4, 1806 in Beverley, Yorkshire, England. Julia traveled extensively with her family, and wrote many novels documenting her destinations. Her first work, Traits and Traditions of Portugal was written in youth, and was widely admired. After the success of this book, she published several novels.
In 1836, she accompanied her father to Constantinople. From the journey came The City of the Sultan, a wildly popular book that thrust her into the height of literary fame. Her powers of description and observation made her pursue her travel literature for several years.
As to her physical appearance, Nathaniel Parker Willis, in his diary, described Julia at nineteen as "fairhaired, sentimental, and has the smallest feet and is the best waltzer I ever saw, but she is not otherwise pretty" (from The Prose Works of N.P. Willis).
About 1842, her health began to fail, and her travels ceased. She returned to England and resided with her parents in Kent. There she continued her novel writing.
She died on November 26, 1862.
Novels:
Lord Morcar
Hereward
Speculation
The Mardens and Daventrys
The Confessions of a Pretty Woman
The Rival Beauties
The Jealous Wife
Flies in Amber
Reginald Lyle
Lady Arabella, or The Adventures of a Doll
The Poor Relations
The Rich Relation