Charlotte Smith (writer)

Smith earned most money between 1787 and 1798, after which she was no longer so popular; several reasons have been given for the declining public interest, including "erosion of the quality of her work after so many years of literary labour, an eventual waning of readerly interest as she published, on average, one work per year for twenty-two years, and a controversy that attached to her public profile" as she wrote on the French Revolution.{{sfn |Zimmerman |2007}} Both radical and conservative periodicals criticized her novels about the revolution. Her insistence on pursuing a lawsuit over Richard Smith's inheritance lost her several patrons. Her increasingly blunt prefaces made her less appealing.{{sfn |Zimmerman |2007}}

Smith earned most money between 1787 and 1798, after which she was no longer so popular; several reasons have been given for the declining public interest, including "erosion of the quality of her work after so many years of literary labour, an eventual waning of readerly interest as she published, on average, one work per year for twenty-two years, and a controversy that attached to her public profile" as she wrote on the French Revolution.{{sfn |Zimmerman |2007}} Both radical and conservative periodicals criticized her novels about the revolution. Her insistence on pursuing a lawsuit over Richard Smith's inheritance lost her several patrons. Her increasingly blunt prefaces made her less appealing.{{sfn |Zimmerman |2007}}

To continue earning money, Smith began writing in less politically charged genres.{{sfn |Blank |2003}} This included a collection of tales, ''Letters of a Solitary Wanderer'' (1801–1802) and the play ''What Is She?'' (1799, attributed). Her most successful foray was into children's books: ''[[Rural Walks]]'' (1795), ''Rambles Farther'' (1796), ''Minor Morals'' (1798), and ''Conversations Introducing Poetry'' (1804). She also wrote two volumes of a history of England (1806) and ''A Natural History of Birds'' (1807, posthumous). Her return to poetry, ''[[Beachy Head and Other Poems]]'' (1807) also appeared posthumously.{{sfn|Zimmerman|2007}} Publishers paid less for these, however, and by 1803 Smith was poverty-stricken. She could barely afford food or coal. She even sold her beloved library of 500 books to pay off debts, but feared being sent to jail for the remaining £20.{{sfn |Blank |2003}}

To continue earning money, Smith sought employment as a botanical colourist through the botanist [[James Edward Smith (botanist) | James Edward Smith]] (no relation). That did not materialize, though this connection appears to have catalysed her later botanical writings.{{sfn | Pascoe}} After 1798, Smith began writing in less politically charged genres than previously.{{sfn |Blank |2003}} This included a collection of tales, ''Letters of a Solitary Wanderer'' (1801–1802) and the play ''What Is She?'' (1799, attributed). Her most successful foray was into children's books: ''[[Rural Walks]]'' (1795), ''Rambles Farther'' (1796), ''Minor Morals'' (1798), and ''Conversations Introducing Poetry'' (1804). She also wrote two volumes of a history of England (1806) and ''A Natural History of Birds'' (1807, posthumous). Her return to poetry, ''[[Beachy Head and Other Poems]]'' (1807) also appeared posthumously.{{sfn|Zimmerman|2007}} Publishers paid less for these, however, and by 1803 Smith was poverty-stricken. She could barely afford food or coal. She even sold her beloved library of 500 books to pay off debts, but feared being sent to jail for the remaining £20.{{sfn |Blank |2003}}

==Illness and death==

==Illness and death==