Margaret Fountaine (1862–1940)
Author of Love among the Butterflies: The Travels and Adventures of a Victorian Lady
About the Author
Image credit: Photographer unknown. Image found at Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
Works by Margaret Fountaine
Love among the Butterflies: The Travels and Adventures of a Victorian Lady (1980) 191 copies, 6 reviews
Butterflies and Late Loves: The Further Travels and Adventures of a Victorian Lady (1986) 49 copies, 4 reviews
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1862-05-16
- Date of death
- 1940-04-21
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- illustrator
traveller
diarist
natural historian
lepidopterist
travel writer - Short biography
- Margaret Fountaine was the eldest of seven children born to an affluent English clergyman. Her mother was a domineering and conservative woman and Margaret sought every opportunity to escape from home. At age 27, she became financially independent through an inheritance from a paternal uncle. In 1895, after visiting Henry John Elwes, a noted botanist and entomologist, Margaret began her own serious butterfly collection. In 1901, she met Khalil Neimy, who became her companion and guide for 27 years. Her quest for new butterflies led Margaret to travel by air, sea, rail, and on horseback to six continents over 50 years. Her sketchbooks are preserved in the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London, and provide important insights into the life and work of this intrepid Victorian naturalist. Margaret Fountaine died of a heart attack in Trinidad while on a collecting trip.
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK (birthplace)
- Place of death
- Trinidad
- Burial location
- Brookwood Cemetery, Trinidad
- Associated Place (for map)
- Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
Members
Reviews
I hope that by now most of us are disabused of the notion that well-off Victorian/Edwardian women did nothing but pay calls and swoon in the orangerie. Those who still hold that view should read Miss Fountaine's diaries. (This book is, in fact, a mere smattering of Fountaine's actual diaries, which began in 1878 and continued on until 1939, shortly before her death.)
The daughter of a country clergyman, Margaret and her mother and siblings were left, after his death, without a great deal of show more money. However, as there were large, comfortable families on both sides, the widow and children were not what we would consider poor. Two of her uncles were quite wealthy, and one made provision for his sister's children in his will, resulting in Margaret's independence.
And, oh! what she did with it! She had fallen in love with a man who, frankly, didn't deserve her, and quite literally attempted to buy him, renewing acquaintance in a letter following her inheritance in which she boldly points out her good fortune. Fortunately, despite his positive response, nothing came of the relationship, and she was free to wander the world and leave us these diaries.
It was not uncommon in this era for young ladies of her class to study natural history, and Margaret's consuming interest was lepidoptera. She pursued this interest in Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, the Middle East, and in 1901, in Damascus, she met a young Syrian with "grey eyes that were always looking toward me." For the rest of his life, despite separations, disapproval, and his marriage, they continued to look towards her, as hers did towards him.
She was always open to what was new, adopting first the bicycle, then the car, and ultimately the airplane as modes of transportation. She grew from a modest maiden to a woman fully in charge of her desires. She took risks, she never stopped learning, she reveled in life.
I am only sad that this volume ends in 1913. I'd like to read what she had to say about the next twenty-seven years. show less
The daughter of a country clergyman, Margaret and her mother and siblings were left, after his death, without a great deal of show more money. However, as there were large, comfortable families on both sides, the widow and children were not what we would consider poor. Two of her uncles were quite wealthy, and one made provision for his sister's children in his will, resulting in Margaret's independence.
And, oh! what she did with it! She had fallen in love with a man who, frankly, didn't deserve her, and quite literally attempted to buy him, renewing acquaintance in a letter following her inheritance in which she boldly points out her good fortune. Fortunately, despite his positive response, nothing came of the relationship, and she was free to wander the world and leave us these diaries.
It was not uncommon in this era for young ladies of her class to study natural history, and Margaret's consuming interest was lepidoptera. She pursued this interest in Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, the Middle East, and in 1901, in Damascus, she met a young Syrian with "grey eyes that were always looking toward me." For the rest of his life, despite separations, disapproval, and his marriage, they continued to look towards her, as hers did towards him.
She was always open to what was new, adopting first the bicycle, then the car, and ultimately the airplane as modes of transportation. She grew from a modest maiden to a woman fully in charge of her desires. She took risks, she never stopped learning, she reveled in life.
I am only sad that this volume ends in 1913. I'd like to read what she had to say about the next twenty-seven years. show less
I purchased this book second-hand a number of years ago and it sat on one of my book shelves patiently waiting to be read. I finally got around to reading it this Summer and am cross with myself for not having read it sooner! It is a wonderful account of an adventurous Victorian woman. What a life, what incredible travels, the people she met and the situations she found herself in. I had to read a couple of the sections twice just to make sure that I had read what I thought I had read! - show more sorry no spoilers.
So why only 4 & half stars and not the full five? Well it is in no way anything against the wonderful Miss Fountaine. It is simply to do with the brevity of the book, only 203 pages when the diaries themselves went to twelve volumes. Yes, I know that it would have been impractical to print all but more would have been very welcome. There is a sequel [Butterflies and Late Loves] but even this is only 174 pages long. I personally would have liked to know more about which butterfly books she owned/read in order to know where to find and identify her ever growing collection but then I am a keen naturalist and bookworm.
A great read for all who enjoy travel, natural history, or simply daring-do. A truly 'wild and fearless' life. show less
So why only 4 & half stars and not the full five? Well it is in no way anything against the wonderful Miss Fountaine. It is simply to do with the brevity of the book, only 203 pages when the diaries themselves went to twelve volumes. Yes, I know that it would have been impractical to print all but more would have been very welcome. There is a sequel [Butterflies and Late Loves] but even this is only 174 pages long. I personally would have liked to know more about which butterfly books she owned/read in order to know where to find and identify her ever growing collection but then I am a keen naturalist and bookworm.
A great read for all who enjoy travel, natural history, or simply daring-do. A truly 'wild and fearless' life. show less
Butterflies and Late Loves: The Further Travels and Adventures of a Victorian. by Margaret Fountaine
Delightful sequel to 'Love Among the Butterflies' continuing the travels of the redoubtable Margaret Fountaine from 1913-1940. Edited with great care and sensitivity by W F Cater, the linking material is excellent, as are the memories of people who met Miss Fountaine in their youth.
A sequel to the wonderful (though short) [Love Among the Butterflies] and again we travel around the world with the ever intrepid Miss Fountaine. If you enjoyed the first book then it is simply a 'must' that you will need to read the sequel and you will not be disappointed. Miss Fountaine is not perfect (which of us is?) and from her comments about England you would think that it is perpetually cold and raining. It would seem that we English do indeed talk (or write about the weather) and show more Miss Fountaine best enjoyed hot tropical climes, which are definitely not to found in England (with the exception of Kew Gardens etc). So her visits 'home' are brief and fortunately for us the reader she is back on her travels.
I gave this book (like the previous one) only four and a half stars rather than five and again this is no reflection on my opinion of the superb Miss Fountaine but is a grievance against the brief length of the book - only 174 pages. The editor W.F. Cater does on the whole a good job, although occasionally I would have liked a little less of the editor's words and more of Miss Fountaine. I especially thought the chapter titled 'New Readers Start Here' was not required - why couldn't the new reader simply read the previous book?,
A book well worth reading of an intrepid woman who took the 20th century with all it's new inventions (e.g. Flying) in her stride. I was sorry the book had to end and intend to make a pilgrimage to the Castle Museum in Norwich in order to see some of her collection. Miss Fountaine I salute you. show less
I gave this book (like the previous one) only four and a half stars rather than five and again this is no reflection on my opinion of the superb Miss Fountaine but is a grievance against the brief length of the book - only 174 pages. The editor W.F. Cater does on the whole a good job, although occasionally I would have liked a little less of the editor's words and more of Miss Fountaine. I especially thought the chapter titled 'New Readers Start Here' was not required - why couldn't the new reader simply read the previous book?,
A book well worth reading of an intrepid woman who took the 20th century with all it's new inventions (e.g. Flying) in her stride. I was sorry the book had to end and intend to make a pilgrimage to the Castle Museum in Norwich in order to see some of her collection. Miss Fountaine I salute you. show less
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