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William Godwin
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There is a group
of friends referred to as “The
Godwin
Circle.” It is noted that it would be
more properly called “The Robinson Circle.” J.C. Robinson was the
senior member of the publishing firm
G.G. & J.
Robinson. He was the publisher for
William Godwin, Elizabeth Inchbald, and Thomas Holcroft. In
records of the Robinson firm, there are
comments on how significant he was to the publishing careers and
financial
affairs of both Inchbald and Godwin. He
also attempted to control the staged plays and their printing.
His association with Inchbald, Godwin, and
Holcroft was motivated by a mutual interest of informing the English
public
about the state of William Godwin kept a journal and did not miss an entry for nearly forty years. The first entry that refers to Elizabeth Inchbald was dated in 1790 and commented on his reading and revising her first novel A Simple Story. This is one year before the two met. His revisions changed her work significantly. Shortly after her first novel was published, she began to see Godwin socially for “tea and conversation.” This began their exchange of work for literary advice. Inchbald has stated that she was not confidant in her grammar skills and turned to her friends frequently for advice. Inchbald also reviewed Godwin’s work, such as Caleb Williams and this began an exchange of letters that continued for many years.
William
Godwin had struggled with religious and theological beliefs for some
time. He became associated with the
radicals and
their views of society and government. These ideas are expressed
in his political writings such
as Political
Justice. After this work
was
published he became a spokesman for the political left and Inchbald was
seen
with him in many social groups. Over the
years, Inchbald had her own circle of friends and by 1792, Godwin’s
journal
entries began to read “not at home” when he called on her.
Inchbald had become friends with the painters
Thomas Lawrence, John Opie, and Amelia Alderson. Alderson
became another link back to Godwin. (Jenkins, A) |