Susanna (Strickland) Moodie was one of the most important writers in nineteenth-century Canada, and her autobiographical narrative Roughing It in the Bush (1852) is considered a classic account of emigrant life. Her genteel background and upbringing left her entirely unprepared for the hardships of the Canadian backwoods. She was born in 1803, the last of the six daughters of an affluent English businessman, Thomas Strickland. In 1808, after the birth of Susanna's two younger brothers, her father purchased Reydon Hall, an Elizabethan manor house near Southwold in Suffolk. He and his wife Elizabeth educated their children there, stressing self-discipline and industry, but permitting activities such as amateur theatricals and …
1932 words
Citation: Hammill, Faye. "Susanna Moodie". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 July 2001 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3169, accessed 24 November 2024.]