ผู้เขียน: Emily Eden

Emily Eden (1797–1869) was a British author renowned for her literary contributions that gave an insight into the social life of the British Raj in India during the 19th century. Born into an aristocratic family, Eden was well-educated and had access to the echelons of political power in British society. Her brother, George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, was appointed Governor-General of India, and it was during her extended visit with him between 1837 and 1842 that she wrote her most celebrated work, “Up the Country”: Letters Written to Her Sister from the Upper Provinces of India (1866). These letters offer a vivid portrayal of the colonial Indian landscape, its multilayered society, and the British expatriate community of the time. Writing with a witty and engaging style, Eden captured the peculiarities and the pomp of colonial life through keen observation and a subtle sense of humor, making her work an invaluable source for understanding the period. Her other written contributions include “The Semi-Detached House” (1859) and “The Semi-Attached Couple” (1860), which, like her letters, reflect her astute observations of the society around her and exude her satirical edge. Her works are lauded for their literary merit and continue to offer scholars and readers alike a window into the nuances of 19th-century British and colonial life.