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Common Knowledge

Other names: Mulock, Dinah Maria (birth name)
Birthdate: 1826-04-20
Date of death: 1887-10-12
Burial location: Keston, Kent, England, UK
Gender: female
Nationality: UK
Country (for map): England, UK
Birthplace: Hartshill, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK
Place of death: Shortlands, Kent, England, UK
Places of residence: Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK (Birthplace)
London, England, UK
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, UK
Kent, England, UK
Education: Brampton House Academy
Occupations: children's book author
novelist
poet
Relationships: Craik, George Lillie (spouse)
Short biography: Dinah Maria Mulock was born at Hartshill, Stoke-upon-Trent. She wrote poetry from an early age and helped her mother teach in a small school. In 1831 the family went to live at Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire where she attended Brampton House Academy. After the death of her mother, Dinah moved to London, where she continued to study modern and classical languages, drawing and music, and worked on her writing. Her first published work was a poem celebrating the birth of Queen Victoria's daughter Vicky, the Princess Royal, in 1841. She wrote stories and novels for children and her success drew her into London literary circles. Some of her works were signed D.M.M., Miss Mulock, or Mrs. Craik.

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Reviews

The Little Lame Prince and The Adventures of a Brownie by Dinah Maria Mulock

A modern fairy tale, beautiful in spirit and unusual in theme and setting. Relates the story of little Prince Dolor and his magic cloak, telling how, with the help of the fairy who is godmother to all children, he learned to endure affliction with cheerfulness and fortitude, and eventually came into his own.

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PlumfieldCH | 1 other review | Mar 13, 2024 |

An Unsentimental Journey Through Cornwall by Mrs. Craik

This book was a 2-day vacation for me.
In the current lockdown situation, it's the best I can hope for.
But... it's pretty good!

With my Kindle in my hand and Google Maps on my laptop, I "traveled" Cornwall right along with Mrs. Craik and savored the bleak and stunning beauty of St. Michael's Mount, "Lizard," Tintagel, and more. In this age of high definition photography and Google Street View, there are worse things than armchair traveling with a witty and thoughtful Victorian lady novelist. I highly recommend the experience, and I will probably try to do it with other Victorian travelogues that I happen upon.

Mrs. Craik, middle-aged at the time of this trip in 1881, has longed to travel to Cornwall for most of her life. Finally she decides to do it, along with two young girls (her daughters?). For two weeks, they scramble along rocky shores, savor ocean sunsets, and eat the most delicious afternoon tea meals, with lots of clotted cream. There's Arthurian myth, there's beautiful landscapes, there's storm and sun, there are lovable hostesses and unfailingly helpful guides. It's a glorious time.

It's a relatively short read, which is good, because you will spend SO much extra time Googling and side-tripping while you read.

Note: This would probably be a 3-star read without the aid of Google Maps :) These are places you really need to have a visual on.… (more)

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Alishadt | Feb 25, 2023 |