Amelia Opie

Amelia Opie was an English author prominent during the Romantic period, known for her novels and advocacy for social reform. Born on November 12, 1769, in Norwich, England, she was the daughter of Dr. James Alderson, a physician, and Amelia Briggs. Her literary career flourished alongside her involvement in intellectual and philanthropic circles, including the Bluestockings and Whig reformers. In 1798, she married painter John Opie, whose death in 1807 deeply affected her. Amelia was an active...See more

Amelia Opie was an English author prominent during the Romantic period, known for her novels and advocacy for social reform. Born on November 12, 1769, in Norwich, England, she was the daughter of Dr. James Alderson, a physician, and Amelia Briggs. Her literary career flourished alongside her involvement in intellectual and philanthropic circles, including the Bluestockings and Whig reformers. In 1798, she married painter John Opie, whose death in 1807 deeply affected her. Amelia was an active abolitionist, contributing significantly to the movement to end slavery. Her name led a petition of 187,000 women presented to the British Parliament, calling for the abolition of slavery. Her writing often reflected her moral and social concerns, blending Romantic ideals with critiques of societal injustice. She passed away on December 2, 1853, at the age of 84 in her hometown of Norwich and was buried in the Gildencroft Quaker Cemetery. Amelia Opie's life and works remain a testament to her literary talent and commitment to humanitarian causes. See less