The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Lewis, Estelle Anna Blanche

LEWIS, Estelle Anna Blanche (Robinson), American dramatist: b. near Baltimore, Md., April 1824; d. London, 24 Nov. 1880. While a schoolgirl she made a verse-rendering of the ‘Æneid’ into English; wrote ‘Forsaken’ and published ‘Records of the Heart’ (1844). Her best dramatic work, ‘Sappho of Lesbos’ (1868), a tragedy, ran through seven editions, was translated into modern Greek, and played at Athens. Edgar A. Poe spoke of her as the rival of Sappho; Lamartine called her the “female Petrarch.” Others of her works are ‘The Child of the Sea, and Other Poems’ (1848); ‘The Myths of the Minstrel’ (1852); ‘Poems’ (1866), and ‘The King's Stratagem’ (1869), a tragedy.