Eve Blantyre Simpson (15 December 1855 – 23 January 1920), sometimes credited as Evelyn Blanytre Simpson, Eva Blantyre Simpson, or E. Blantyre Simpson, was a Scottish writer, author of biographies, short stories, a book about dogs, and a book on the folklore of lowland Scotland.
Early life
Eve Blantyre Simpson was born in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
, one of the nine children of professor
James Young Simpson
Sir James Young Simpson, 1st Baronet (7 June 1811 – 6 May 1870) was a Scottish obstetrician and a significant figure in the history of medicine. He was the first physician to demonstrate the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in humans and ...
(1811–1870) and Janet "Jessie" Grindlay Simpson (1812–1870). She was still a girl when both parents died, within a few weeks of each other, in 1870. Her father, an obstetrician, popularised the use of
chloroform
Chloroform, or trichloromethane (often abbreviated as TCM), is an organochloride with the formula and a common solvent. It is a volatile, colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid produced on a large scale as a precursor to refrigerants and po ...
as an anaesthetic.
Career
Simpson wrote biographies of her father
and two of her brother Walter's friend,
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...
, one a study of his early life,
and one a shorter work, "a flashlight biography, a nutshell appreciation." She also wrote a "readable, if not authoritative" book on folklore in Scotland, including the tradition of
Beltane
Beltane () or ''Bealtaine'' () is the Gaels, Gaelic May Day festival, marking the beginning of summer. It is traditionally held on 1 May, or about midway between the March equinox, spring equinox and summer solstice. Historically, it was widely ...
, lore about fairies, and fishermen's superstitions.
Of her book ''Nelson and Puck: Dogs of Other Days'' (1882), one London reviewer predicted that it "will no doubt be duly appreciated by those for whom it is intended, but cannot be of the slightest interest to others." She also wrote short stories and articles, often about dogs, for periodicals and newspapers.
Simpson toured as an author in the United States and Canada in 1899, and was described as "a devoted bicyclist" and "animated and witty".
Personal life
Simpson died from
liver cancer
Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...
on 23 January 1920 at Edinburgh, aged 64 years. She was the last surviving member of her father's large family.
Published books
* ''Nelson and Puck: Dogs of Other Days'', Edinburgh:
Blackwood & Sons, 1882.
* ''Sir James Y. Simpson,'' Edinburgh:
Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, 1896, (
"Famous Scots Series")
* ''Robert Louis Stevenson's Edinburgh Days'', London:
, 1898.
* ''Robert Louis Stevenson,'' Edinburgh:
T. N. Foulis
T. N. Foulis was a British Publishing, publisher founded in Edinburgh in 1903. During its first ten years, the firm became well known for producing "highly original, beautifully illustrated books", , 1905. "Spirit of the Age Series", no. 2.
* ''Folk Lore in Lowland Scotland'', London:
J.M. Dent, 1908.
* ''The Robert Louis Stevenson Originals'', London & Edinburgh: T. N. Foulis, 1912.
References
External links
Online Books by E. Blantyre Simpson at the Online Books Page.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Eve Blantyre
1855 births
1920 deaths
Writers from Edinburgh
Scottish biographers
Scottish women writers
Scottish non-fiction writers
Deaths from liver cancer in the United Kingdom
British women biographers