Lifespan: 1782- 1854
Nationality: Scottish
Genres: Romantic Period
Types of Work: Novels
Contemporaries: Sir Walter Scott
Influences: Maria Edgeworth
Style: Racy humor, acute character-painting, sardonic wit. Focuses on Scottish society.
Bio: Susan was born September 7, 1782 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her father, James Ferrier, was one of the principle clerks of the Court of Session and a colleague of Sir Walter Scott, with whom Susan had a friendship. Sir Walter, in his Tales of My Landlord, referred to Susan as his "sister shadow" as praise for her writings. Her father's position in government put Susan in touch with the intellectual circles of Edinburgh from an early age.
All three of Susan's novels were published anonymously. Her first novel, Marriage, was written in 1810, but not published until 1818. This was followed by Inheritance, in 1824, and Destiny, in 1831.
After her mother's death in 1797, Susan kept house for her father until his own death in 1829. She lived the remainder of life in quiet in Edinburgh. She died November 5, 1854. Among the papers found after her death was an article entitled "Recollections of Visits to Ashestiel and Abbotsford", in which she chronicles her friendship with Sir Walter and Lady Scott from their first meeting in 1811 to his death in 1831. Susan's personal correspondence with her sister was destroyed per her request, and so most of her biographical matter was lost. Her correspondence with her grand-nephew, John Ferrier, survived and was published in 1898.
Novels:
Marriage
The Inheritance
Destiny