Susannah Gunning

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SG began in the mid eighteenth century, at an early age, as a mediocre sentimental novelist: snobbish, stylistically over-elaborate, centring her plots on wished-for ascent to the nobility, and addressing the reader with girlish coyness. Her later work, produced after a silence of years, is more confident, relaxed, and inventive. She also wrote poetry. Her coded writings about her tortured family relationships, though marred by over-writing, provide a fascinating picture of the conflicts resulting from upward mobility in a tightly stratified society.

Milestones

Probably by 1740

Susannah Minifie (later SG ) was born in Somerset, perhaps at Fairwater House near Taunton, in her father's parish of Staplegrove, or perhaps away from home.
Her baptism is not listed at Staplegrove, like those of most of her siblings; she was not one of those listed as under age when her father made his will in late 1761.
Ashfield, Andrew. Email to Isobel Grundy about Margaret Minifie and Susannah Gunning.
Ashfield, Andrew. Email to Isobel Grundy about Margaret Minifie and Susannah Gunning.
“FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service”. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By August 1763

Susannah Minifie (later SG ) collaborated with her sister Margaret Minifie in a sentimental epistolary novel, The Histories of Lady Frances S— and Lady Caroline S—: three volumes appeared this year.
Critical Review. W. Simpkin and R. Marshall.
16 (1763): 108

28 August 1800

SG died in Down Street, London.
Gentleman’s Magazine. Various publishers.
70 (1800): 904

By August 1802

SG 's final work, The Heir Apparent, A Novel, was posthumously published with her daughter 's revision and additions.
Critical Review. W. Simpkin and R. Marshall.
2d ser. 35 (1802): 477

Biography

Birth and Background

Probably by 1740

Susannah Minifie (later SG ) was born in Somerset, perhaps at Fairwater House near Taunton, in her father's parish of Staplegrove, or perhaps away from home.
Her baptism is not listed at Staplegrove, like those of most of her siblings; she was not one of those listed as under age when her father made his will in late 1761.
Ashfield, Andrew. Email to Isobel Grundy about Margaret Minifie and Susannah Gunning.
Ashfield, Andrew. Email to Isobel Grundy about Margaret Minifie and Susannah Gunning.
“FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service”. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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