Frances Alice Blogg Chesterton (28 June 1869 – 12 December 1938) was an English author of verse, songs and school drama. She was the wife of
G. K. Chesterton and had a large role in his career as
amanuensis
An amanuensis () is a person employed to write or type what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another, and also refers to a person who signs a document on behalf of another under the latter's authority. In one example Eric Fenby ...
and personal manager.
Early life
Frances was born on 28 June 1869, the first of seven children of George William Blogg and Blanche Keymer.
[Nancy Carpentier Brown, ''The Woman Who Was Chesterton'' (Charlotte, NC, 2015).] Frances’ mother taught her and her sisters to think independently, having them attend London's first kindergarten.
She was educated at a progressive Ladies' School in
Fitzroy Square
Fitzroy Square is a Georgian square in London. It is the only one in the central London area known as Fitzrovia.
The square is one of the area's main features, this once led to the surrounding district to be known as Fitzroy Square or Fitzro ...
run by Rosalie and Minna Praetorius, followed by
Notting Hill High School
Notting Hill and Ealing High School is an independent school for girls aged 4 – 18 in Ealing, London. Founded in 1873, it is one of the 26 schools that make up the Girls' Day School Trust. It has a Junior Department of 310 girls (ages 4–11) ...
.
Her father died when she was fourteen years old. Later, she attended
St. Stephen's College for two years as a
pupil teacher
Pupil teacher was a training program in wide use before the twentieth century, as an apprentice system for teachers. With the emergence in the beginning of the nineteenth century of education for the masses, demand for teachers increased. By 1840, ...
. She taught Sunday school at an Anglican church in Bedford Park. Here, she became very involved in her faith by reading the Bible and devoting herself to the Saints.
[ In 1895, Frances began working as a secretary and administrator at the Parent's National Educational Union. She worked here, planning and organising conferences, giving speeches, and editing their publications until her marriage to G.K. Chesterton.]
Marriage
She first met Gilbert Keith Chesterton in 1896 and married him on 28 June 1901 in St Mary Abbots
St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8.
The present church structure was built in 1872 to the designs of Sir George Gilbert Scott, who combined neo-Gothic and early- ...
, Kensington. Throughout their marriage, Frances encouraged his writing. Because of her passion for her husband, she worked as a manager, keeping his appointments' diary and accounts, hiring his typists, and negotiating on his behalf with publishers.["Requiescant"](_blank)
''The Tablet
''The Tablet'' is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Brendan Walsh, previously literary editor and then acting editor, was appointed editor in July 2017.
History
''The Tablet'' was launched in 1840 by a Quaker convert ...
'', 17 December 1938. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
G. K. Chesterton admired Frances' faith and how she lived it out by reading the Bible, teaching Sunday school, and taking care of the sick and elderly. Frances introduced him to the Holy Trinity and Jesus. In G.K. Chesterton's poem, '' The Ballad of the White Horse,'' he gives Frances the recognition of this impact in his life, showing that she was the reason he converted:''"Therefore I bring these rhymes to you
Who brought the cross to me."''
Frances was received into the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
on 1 November 1926, four years after her husband.[Anne Thaxter Eaton, ed., ''Welcome Christmas! A Garland Of Poems'' (New York, 1955).]
Death and legacy
In 1909 the couple moved to Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield ( ) is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Buckinghamshire, England, west-northwest of central London and south-southeast of Aylesbury. Three other towns are within : Gerrards Cross, Amersham and High W ...
, Buckinghamshire, where they lived until their deaths.Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield ( ) is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Buckinghamshire, England, west-northwest of central London and south-southeast of Aylesbury. Three other towns are within : Gerrards Cross, Amersham and High W ...
.
Works
;Plays
* ''The Children's Crusade''
Further reading
* Nancy Carpentier Brown: ''The woman who was Chesterton : the life of Frances Chesterton, wife of English author G.K. Chesterton'', Charlotte, NC : ACS Books, 015 015
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blogg, Frances
1869 births
1938 deaths
20th-century British writers
People educated at Notting Hill & Ealing High School
Converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism
Amanuenses