Harriett Jay was born in the town of Grays, Essex, in 1853, the daughter of Richard Jay, a labourer at the local chalk pit. Towards the end of 1861, Robert Buchanan married her elder sister Mary and a few years later Harriett went to live with the couple, remaining with Buchanan until his death in 1901. As well as her biography of Buchanan she wrote several novels, collaborated with Buchanan on a number of plays (a couple of which achieved enormous popular success) and was also an actress. Harriett Jay never married and died on 21st December, 1932 in Ilford, Essex. The life and literary career of Harriett Jay is so inextricably linked with that of Robert Buchanan that she tends to get lost in his shadow. The purpose of this section of the site is to shed some light on the lady. HARRIETT JAY (1853-1932) 1. Biography 2. Biographical materials
(including obituaries and links to her birth certificate, census returns and her will) 3. Bibliography 4. Book Reviews 5. Theatre Reviews 5. Robert Buchanan: Some Account of His Life, His Life’s Work and His Literary Friendships by Harriett Jay 6. Contributions to Periodicals 7. The Literary Ladies’ Dinner - May 31st 1889 |
