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Margaret Harkness
Margaret (‘Maggie’) Elise Harkness (1854 - 1923) was a British writer and journalist, and is now perhaps best known for her publications using the pseudonym of ‘John Law’ (perhaps a response to Schreiner’s early pseudonym of ‘Ralph Iron’). Harkness was a second cousin of Beatrice Webb, one of the Potter sisters. Schreiner came to know Harkness during the 1880s when she was living in London, and they moved in the same ‘New Woman’ circles. Some of Schreiner’s earlier letters to other people from the 1880s suggest that she initially liked Harkness and sought out her company, but it is apparent from later letters that she came to regard Harkness as a somewhat predatory person in a number of respects. In letters to W.T. Stead and her sister-in-law Fan Schreiner from the early 1890s, and also her one powerful extant letter to Harkness herself, Schreiner makes it clear that she did not wish to continue a relationship, epistolary or otherwise, with her. Indeed, the imprecations of the ‘tall thin woman’ are described to Fan Schreiner as among the reasons Schreiner had left Europe.
For more information see:
John Lucas (2004) ‘Harkness, Margaret Elise (1854-1923)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/56894
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National Archives Depot, Pretoria: The National Archives Depot is Pretoria is a leading location for archival papers across a wide time-period, organisations an... Show/Hide Collection Letters
T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/4- pages 47-54:missing page/s , I am giving up today & tomorrow in trying to answer., I wrote to you last in June or July not yet quite ...
Mentioned In- Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin: The HRC, Austin, is one of the world leading locations for archival papers pertaining to literary life and manuscripts across... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- HRC/CAT/OS/2a-xi:Blackwell , Wednesday Ngt , I got here this afternoon. The woman is so horrible: they want me to take & pay for the room ...
- HRC/UNCAT/OS-61:Sunday Morning , Isn’t it hot! I feel better & rested for yesterday I’d like to come to Anerly, but then it’...
- HRC/CAT/OS/4a-x:Monday, I so sorry you have to go to Foulgers. Wanted to meet you at National at four, because if I go out early my whole day...
- HRC/UNCAT/OS-104:Sweetest boy, send the enclosed to Carpenter at once. I like the letter so much I got to-day, my hearts brother. I’ve r...
- LSE Passfield: The extensive Passfield (Beatrice and Sidney Webb) collection is part of the Archives Collections held by the London School o... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Beatrice Webb (nee Potter): Passfield/2/1/2/9, Folios 690-693:Roseneath, Harpenden, Herts., Dear Miss Potter, I should like very much to come, but cannot leave my work just now I am bette...
- National Archives Depot, Pretoria: The National Archives Depot is Pretoria is a leading location for archival papers across a wide time-period, organisations an... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/6- pages 58-61:Thank you, good friend, for your letter. But your last two letters don’t seem like you. Perhaps it is only their being ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/12- pages 76-9:Matjesfontein, March 15 / 91, None of this to be printed, Thank you for letter. I am glad you have made an alliance with Rhod...
- National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown: The National English Literary Museum is the leading location for collections pertaining to the imaginative and creative writi... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/9:Havelock, I've just come back from seeing M. Harkness. Oh, the joy to get back & here again. I could have cried for joy w...
- Sheffield City Libraries, Archives & Local Studies: Edward Carpenter Collection, Archives & Local Studies, Sheffield City Libraries: The Edward Carpenter Collection is held ... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Edward Carpenter 359/25:Harpenden , Sunday afternoon, Pouring rain , I sit here alone , Dear E.C., Maggie Harkness was here the other day & she s...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold1/1884/1:32 Fitzroy St, June 3rd 1884, Dear old Will,, Thank you for your letter. I am much aggrieved. I hear that at some not absolut...