 The House of Dun |
Violet Jacob lived from 1863 to 1946. She was a poet and author best remembered for her historical novel "Flemington", though she also wrote numerous other novels as well as short stories, volumes of non-fiction and poetry. The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline.
Violet Kennedy-Erskine was born into an aristocratic family living at the House of Dun, near Montrose in Angus, a stately home now cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. In 1894 she married Major Arthur Jacob, an Irish officer serving in the British Army, and accompanied him first to India and then to Egypt before settling with him in England.
Violet Jacob's first novel, "The Sheepstealers" was published in 1902 and was set in the Welsh borders. Her 1904 novel "The Interloper" was set in her native Angus and made good use of Scots dialogue. Further books followed, including children's books and historical romances, the most notable being "Flemington" (1911). Republished as recently as 1994, this was set against the background of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Violet also wrote short stories and poetry, as well as a history of the "Lairds of Dun."
Violet and Arthur's only son, Harry, was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. They continued to live in England until Arthur's death in 1936, after which Violet returned to Angus. In 1945, the year before she died, Violet was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Edinburgh.
