Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry

Poet, novelist, short fiction writer, children’s author. Alternative signature: “Miss Susannah Strickland.” Née Strickland. Sister of Agnes and Elizabeth Strickland. Born in Suffolk, England, and emigrated to Canada in 1832, after marrying John Wedderburn Dunbar Moodie on 4 April 1831. Frequent contributor to a range of literary annuals. Campaigned for abolition, writing pamphlets for the Anti-Slavery Society as well as editing two memoirs of former slaves. Author of poetry volumes Patriotic Songs (1830, co-authored with her sister Agnes) and Enthusiasm, and Other Poems (1831). Contributed to Toronto’s The Palladium and Montreal’s Literary Garland, and with her husband briefly edited The Victoria Magazine (1847-1848), based in Belleville. Her memoir Roughing It in the Bush (1852), based on her pioneer experience, is a major early work of Canadian literature. Biographical information: DCB, Orlando. (SP, AC)