Rosaline Masson

Rosaline Masson (1867–1949) was a prolific writer of novels, biographies, histories and other works. She was born on 6 May 1867 in Edinburgh and was the daughter of David Masson, Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at Edinburgh University, and suffrage campaigner Emily Rosaline Orme.[1] She sometimes called herself 'Rosaline Orme Masson' (perhaps in imitation of her brother, David Orme Masson), but the second name is not in her birth or death certificates.[2] She died on 7 December 1949 in Edinburgh.[3]

Rosaline Masson
Born(1867-05-06)6 May 1867
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Died7 December 1949(1949-12-07) (aged 82)
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
OccupationWriter, novelist, historian, biographer
NationalityScottish
GenreNon-fiction, history, biography, novels

Literary associations

Through her father, Rosaline Masson encountered many of the literary giants of her day who visited them at home in Edinburgh. She has many anecdotes of these encounters in her book, Poets, Patriots, and Lovers, that give insights into their personalities. For example, she has a 'hazy memory' of Thomas Carlyle "standing by my table stooping as he spread golden syrup on a slice of bread for me at my breakfast."[4]

Later, in April 1884, (aged 16) she flirted innocently with the poet Robert Browning (aged 71) who came over to her at breakfast and said:
robert: "Why, I declare! You were going to have said good-morning to me, weren't you?"
rosaline: "Yes, I was."
robert: "Why, I declare! You were going to have given me a kiss!"
rosaline: "No, I wasn't... But if you will give me one, I will keep it all my life."[5][lower-alpha 1]

She also spent a fortnight or so with the philosopher Herbert Spencer at his home in Brighton. She recalled that Spencer abhorred casual visitors. When a star struck American came to visit, he was informed that "Mr Spencer is not able to receive visitors." The American gentleman replied: "But I have come all the way from New York on purpose, Sir! I assure you that with us the name of Herbert Spencer..." But this importuning was too much for the sofa-confined philosopher who called out: "Send him away! Don’t let him come in!" The reply was: "I have heard the voice of Herbert Spencer! I can now return to New York satisfied!"[6]

During one dinner with her family, James Barrie was not in a talkative mood. Many attempts were made to draw him out, until a lady ventured to ask "'Are you musical, Mr. Barrie?' The answer came gloomily: 'No, I’m not. I can never tell one tune from another. I dislike music.' After a moment’s pause, in the same subdued tone: 'I was musical critic on The _____ for several years.'"[7]

Publications

Biographies

Histories

Edited works

Novels and stories

Sources
  • Births and deaths information available at the General Register Office for Scotland, Scotlands People Centre in Edinburgh, and also at http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk
  • Poets, Patriots, and Lovers : Sketches and Memories of Famous People, London : James Clarke & Co. Ltd., [1933].
  • British Library catalogue: http://www.bl.uk
  • http://openlibrary.org

Notes
  1. This encounter took place during the Tercentenary Festival of Edinburgh University in April 1884.

References
  1. Ewan, Elizabeth L.; Innes, Sue; Reynolds, Sian; Pipes, Rose (27 June 2007). Biographical Dictionary of ScottishWomen. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 258–259. ISBN 978-0-7486-2660-1.
  2. As can be seen in the Births and deaths information available at the General Register Office for Scotland, Scotlands People Centre in Edinburgh, and also at http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk
  3. "Rosaline Masson - Edinburgh Author's Death". The Scotsman (33239). 8 December 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 15 August 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. Masson, Rosaline (1933). Poets, Patriots, and Lovers: sketches and memories of famous people. James Clarke & Co. p. 183.
  5. Masson, Rosaline (1933). Poets, Patriots, and Lovers: sketches and memories of famous people. James Clarke & Co. p. 38.
  6. Masson, Rosaline (1933). Poets, Patriots, and Lovers: sketches and memories of famous people. James Clarke & Co. p. 198.
  7. Masson, Rosaline (1933). Poets, Patriots, and Lovers: sketches and memories of famous people. James Clarke & Co. p. 221.
  8. http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Masson-Edinburgh/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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