Penelope Aubin

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PA began publishing early in the eighteenth century. She is chiefly known for her short novels, though she turned her hand to poetry and comedy as well. At the height of her career her rate of production was equalled only by Defoe and Haywood , and her novels continued to be reprinted throughout the eighteenth century, in Ireland and the USA as well as England. Her fictional plots range the world and are crammed with adventures. Much under-age sex and violence (often both together) cluster at the margins of her stories, while her central characters preserve their virtue (often female Christian virtue resisting the lust of a man from a different culture), and moralistic High Tory principles are upheld.

Milestones

Perhaps 1679

Penelope Charleton (later Aubin) was born in London, an illegitimate child. Recent discoveries about her identity make her previously listed birth-date far from certain.
Aubin scholar Debbie Welham has been so far unable to locate any birth record.
Welham, Debbie. “The Particular Case of Penelope Aubin”. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol.
31
, No. 1, pp. 63-76.
67
Mann, David D. et al. Women Playwrights in England, Ireland and Scotland, 1660-1823. Indiana University Press.
378
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.
Welham, Debbie. “The Particular Case of Penelope Aubin”. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol.
31
, No. 1, pp. 63-76.
67

27 November 1707

PA published her first work: The Stuarts: A Pindarique Ode, dedicated to Queen Anne .
Foxon, David F. English Verse 1701-1750. Cambridge University Press.

Shortly before 23 April 1738

PA died in London; she was buried on this date. Her husband made and signed another codicil to his will about a week later.
Highfill, Philip H. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.
Welham, Debbie. “The Particular Case of Penelope Aubin”. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol.
31
, No. 1, pp. 63-76.
70

Biography

Birth and Background

Perhaps 1679

Penelope Charleton (later Aubin) was born in London, an illegitimate child. Recent discoveries about her identity make her previously listed birth-date far from certain.
Aubin scholar Debbie Welham has been so far unable to locate any birth record.
Welham, Debbie. “The Particular Case of Penelope Aubin”. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol.
31
, No. 1, pp. 63-76.
67
Mann, David D. et al. Women Playwrights in England, Ireland and Scotland, 1660-1823. Indiana University Press.
378
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.
Welham, Debbie. “The Particular Case of Penelope Aubin”. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol.
31
, No. 1, pp. 63-76.
67

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