Lifespan: 1770-1844
Nationality: English
Genres:
Types of Work: Novels, children's works, historical tales, geographical and topographical descriptions, poetry
Contemporaries: Maria Edgeworth, Mary Russell Mitford
Style: Most works were written for young people. Most depict the struggles of a Christian family against hardships.
Bio: Barbara Wreakes was born in 1770 to the Sheffield manufacturer, Robert Wreakes. Her father died when Barbara was only three, and she was raised by a spinster aunt.
She first began writing for a local paper, and began a milliner's shop to support herself. After she married businessman Thomas Hoole, she closed the shop. He died two years later, leaving her with an infant son to care for.
Barbara moved in with her mother-in-law in Attercliffe, Sheffield, England and partly supported herself and her son by subscriptions from a book of poetry she had written. In 1809, she opened a girls' boarding school at Harrogate. She later developed it into a ladies' finishing school. This school was a forerunner of what is now Harrogate College.
In 1810, she married the landscape artist, Thomas Hofland. Though her husband had a good local reputation, and some notoriety, Barbara's writings would be the main source of the family's income. In 1811, the family moved to London.
Barbara became a friend of fellow writers Maria Edgeworth and Mary Russell Mitford. Her first work, The History of an Officer's Widow, was published in 1809.
Both Barbara's son and husband predeceased her. She died on November 4, 1844 and was buried at Richmond, Surrey, England. A biography of her life, by Thomas Ramsay, was published in 1849.
Novels:
The Barbadoes Girl: A Tale for Young People
The Son of a Genius
Daughter of a Genius: A Tale for Youth
The Affectionate Brothers
Tales of the Manor
Tales of the Priory
The Clergyman's Widow
The Panorama of Europe
Iwanowna: or, The Maid of Moscow
Ellen, the Teacher, A Tale for Youth
The Blind Farmer and His Children
Emily's Reward, or The Holiday Trip to Paris
The Captives in Indea
The Sisters: A Domestic Tale
The Officer's Widow and Family
The Clergyman's Widow and Family
The History of a Merchant's Widow
Says She to Her Neighbour, What?
The Stolen Boy
Good Grandmother
The Godmother's Tales
The Crusaders
Ellen the Teacher
The King's Son
Theodore: or, The Crusaders
The Unloved One
Catherine I, or, The Czarina
Adelaide; or the Massacre of St Bartholomew
A Father as He Should Be
Sisters
Elizabeth
Moderation
Patience
Self-Denial
Integrity
Decision
Fortitude
Humility
Reflection