HOW'ITT, Witt.tiot (1792-1879) and MARY (1799-1888). Two English authors, who may well be treated together. William Ilowitt was born at Treanor. Derbyshire. Ilis parents were Quakers. Though lie attended several schools, he educated himself mostly by reading. From his youth lie was fond of outdoor sports. and he cele brated in verse the scenery with which he was familiar. In 1821 married Mary Bothani. daughter of a prosperous Quaker of Uttoxeter. Staffordshire. After living for a year in Staf fordshire, they settled in Nottingham, where William set up as a druggist. here they re mained for twelve years. They subsequently lived at Esher in Surrey. London, Heidelberg, and Borne. William spent two years in Aus tralia (1852-541. Somewhat after middle life they became spiritualists. Both died in Rome and were buried there. Soon after their mar riage they began to write in collaboration, and then independently, Among their joint work. are contributions in verse and prose to annuals and periodicals: Thr Forest Minstrel (1823) : The Desolation of Eyam. and Other (1827): Literature and Romances of Northern Europe (1852): and Ruined Abbeys and Castles of Great Britain (18621. Among William's in
dependent works are: Book of Seasons, or Calen dar of Nature (1831); Popular History of Priesteraft (1533); Pantika, or Traditions of the Most ancient Times (1835): Rural Life of Eng land (183S); Visits to Remarkable Places (1st series, 1839; 241 series, 1841) : Boys' Country Book (1839) : Rural and Domestic Life of Ger many (1842); Popular History of England (1856-62) ; and The Mad War Planet, and Other Poems (1871). Among Mary, 's independent pub lications, numbering 110 distinct works, are translations from Fredrika Bremer and Hans Andersen; Sketches of Natural History (1834) ; Popular history of the United States (1859) ; a novel called The Cost of Cuergwyn (1864) ; Talcs in Prose for Young People (1864) : Tales in Verse for Young People (1865) ; and Talcs for All Seasons (1881). From these lists it may be seen that the Howitts did much for their generation by diffusing knowledge. On the other hand, they wrote little or nothing of permanent value. Consult Mary Howitt : An Autobiography, edited by her daughter, Margaret Howitt (Lon don, 1889).