Amelia Opie

Born in Norwich on 12 November 1769, she grew up as Amelia Alderson, the only child of a physician. She published early, moved in literary circles in London in the 1790s, and married the painter John Opie in 1798. After his death in 1807, she returned to Norwich, where she continued writing and became an important local public figure.

She wrote novels, poetry, and shorter tales, and her work often blends feeling with close attention to social behavior and moral choice. Father and Daughter from 1801 is usually singled out as her most influential book, and it helped build her reputation as a major popular author of the Romantic period.

Later in life, she became closely associated with Quaker life and with anti-slavery activism. That mix of literary success, reforming energy, and strong personal presence has kept her interesting to readers far beyond her own century.