Letitia Elizabeth Landon Collection (VMF094), 1928-1938 | MSS Manuscripts

Landon, Letitia E. (Letitia Elizabeth) (1802-1838)

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (August 14, 1802 –October 15, 1838) was an English poet and novelist, better known by her initials L.E.L.  Born in Chelsea, London, Landon’s first poem was published under the single initial "L" in the Literary Gazette in 1820, when she was 18. The following year, with financial support from her grandmother, Landon published a book of poetry, The Fate of Adelaide, under her full name.  The same month that The Fate of Adelaide appeared, Landon published two poems under the initials "L.E.L." in Gazette; these poems, and the initials under which they were published, attracted much discussion and speculation.  Landon served as the Gazette's chief reviewer as she continued to write poetry.  Her second collection, The Improvisatrice, appeared in 1824. Landon's father died later that year, and Landon was forced to use her writing to support both herself and her family.

By 1826, Landon's high reputation began to suffer as rumors began to appear that she had had affairs or secretly borne children. Landon continued, however, to publish poetry, and in 1831 she published her first novel, Romance and Reality.

In October 1836, Landon met George Maclean, governor of the Gold Coast (now Ghana), at a dinner party.  He and Landon were married in 1838. The marriage was kept secret and the couple sailed for Cape Coast. Two months later Landon was found dead, a bottle of prussic acid in her hand.