Case 11
- Mrs Corlett
Mrs Corlett. Parliamentary skits and sketches. Wellington: Printed by T. McKenzie, 1871.
One of the most enigmatic of early New Zealand women writers was Mrs Corlett, who also wrote under the pseudonym of ‘Silver Pen’.
Of uncertain identity, newspaper advertisements reveal that Mrs Corlett was a soprano singer and pianist, initially in Auckland, Raglan, then Wellington, where she operated a music academy in Thorndon. In 1875, she departed to America, by this time a widow, with her five children.
As ‘Silver Pen’, Mrs Corlett wrote acerbic political satire in sprightly doggerel for the Wellington Independent. She subsequently published two volumes of Parliamentary skits and sketches.
Many of Mrs Corlett’s political sketches, including ‘Woman’s defence’ are imbued with defiantly feminist sentiments.
Mrs Corlett. Parliamentary skits and sketches: Second series. Wellington: Printed by C.W. Hamer at the City Printing Office, 1872.
One of the most enigmatic of early New Zealand women writers was Mrs Corlett, who also wrote under the pseudonym of ‘Silver Pen’.
Of uncertain identity, newspaper advertisements reveal that Mrs Corlett was a soprano singer and pianist, initially in Auckland, Raglan, then Wellington, where she operated a music academy in Thorndon. In 1875, she departed to America, by this time a widow, with her five children.
As ‘Silver Pen’, Mrs Corlett wrote acerbic political satire in sprightly doggerel for the Wellington Independent. She subsequently published two volumes of Parliamentary skits and sketches.
Many of Mrs Corlett’s political sketches, including ‘Woman’s defence’ are imbued with defiantly feminist sentiments.
Mrs Corlett. Parliamentary skits and sketches: Second series. Wellington: Printed by C.W. Hamer at the City Printing Office, 1872.
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Mrs Corlett. Claribel and other poems. Wellington: Robert Burrett, 1874.
In contrast to her political sketches, Mrs Corlett’s volume of verse, Claribel and other poems is more genial of sentiment. “Many are of great sweetness and beauty” wrote T.M. Hocken in his 1909 Bibliography of the literature relating to New Zealand.
