Charles Ollier letters to Leigh Hunt

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0099-F0368

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Includes two letters from English publisher, writer, and editor Charles Ollier to English essayist and poet Leigh Hunt. The letters are signed by Charles Ollier.

Dates

Creation: 1850 July 29 and undated

Creator

Ollier, Charles, 1788-1859 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Charles Ollier (1788-1859)

Publisher, writer, and editor Charles Ollier was born on May 4, 1784, in the parish of St. James, Bath, England.

Ollier moved from Bath to London at the age of fourteen to become a junior clerk at a London banking house. While continuing his work and apprenticeships in the field of banking, Ollier became interested in the London literary, theatrical, and musical scene. In 1810, Ollier wrote his first piece of theatrical criticism for the Examiner, a Liberal newspaper published by poet and essayist Leigh Hunt. Through his friendship with Hunt, Ollier became acquainted with other prominent artists and authors living in London. On May 13, 1814, Ollier married Maria Gattie (1786-1878). The couple would go on to have six children. In 1817, Ollier entered into business with his younger brother James as a publisher, bookseller, stationer, and manager of a circulating library. Ollier's earlier introductions to individuals in the London literary scene via Leigh Hunt helped the brothers to publish the first two books bearing the C. and J. Ollier imprint. These works, John Keats's Poems, and Percy B. Shelley's Proposal for Putting Reform to the Vote throughout the Kingdom, were published in March of 1817, and marked the beginning of Ollier's influence as a publisher. The brother's business went bankrupt during the winter of 1822-1823, and Ollier was forced to cease publishing. From 1825 until 1839, Ollier worked as a reader and advisor for other publishing firms, until, in 1846, he began publishing again under his own name. Unfortunately, this second publishing endeavor would fail just three years later, in January of 1849. Though Ollier struggled to achieve financial success with his publishing efforts, his work was nevertheless highly influential. In addition to his career as a publisher, Ollier also wrote and published a number of his own works. Ollier died June 5, 1859, as a result of a long-time respiratory illness.

Robinson, Charles E. "Ollier, Charles (1788-1859)."Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Available online at http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/20739 (accessed January 27, 2009).