Following the business of the society’s AGM Georgette Vale entertained members by taking on the role of Harriet Martineau and looking back at the life of the celebrated 19th century author and journalist, who was born in Magdalen Street, Norwich, on June 12 1802. Harriet’s family was of Huguenot descent and of the Unitarian faith. Her childhood was difficult, being dogged with health problems and with a mother showing little affection. She was born without the sensations of taste and smell, as well as deafness, which increased from the age of twelve through her teens, so she had to use an ear trumpet. She would visit her uncle Philip Meadows Martineau, who had a big house in Bracondale, Norwich, the nearby road being named Martineau Lane.

At the age of fifteen she was sent to live with an aunt, who ran a school in Bristol, and spent two happy years with her. Whilst her mother thought she should turn her hand to sewing, Harriet turned her attention to books and writing, soon having articles published in the Unitarian periodical The Monthly Repository. In 1824 her father died and the family’s clothing business collapsed. It was said she was left with a shilling in her purse, but writing and publications were to be her salvation.

Harriet churned out articles and pamphlets on the social, economic and political issues of the time writing “political economy”.

Moving to London she came into contact with many literary figures of the day, among them George Eliot and Charles Dickens. Charlotte Bronte was said to have enjoyed Harriet’s first novel “Deerbrook”. She became friendly with Erasmus Darwin, brother of the famous Charles, whom she also met for discussion.

In 1834 Harriet travelled to America, where she supported the abolitionists and attended their meetings. Back again in England her health deteriorated and she spent five years in lodgings at Tynemouth as an invalid. Eventually her illness was cured by mesmerism and she moved to the Lake District settling in Ambleside. She had had contact with William Wordsworth and his wife, who also lived in the Lake District. In 1846 she travelled with friends to visit Palestine, Egypt and Syria, which resulted in her travel book “Eastern Life” being published. In 1851 she was exchanging letters with Henry Atkinson on philosophical atheism, which upset some people.

Returning to Ambleside at her house The Knoll, she experimented in farming cream, butter, vegetables and eggs, while still sending articles to London for publication. In 1852 she joined the staff of the Daily News and became its leader writer – then a big step for a woman.