Description
This 1903 FIRST EDITION of M. R. Ailenroc’s book, ‘The White Castle of Louisiana’ is in an absolute as-new condition. Gilt spine title. 264 pages. Blue canvas like exterior, with gilt lettering. Ultra-Fine condition.
There are no blemishes on the cover or on any pages. This book could have been printed yesterday and purchased today, as it looks nothing like a 120-year-old book. Its condition is outstanding.
Size: 210 x 148 x 23mm
Weight: 0.509kg
A Private Viewing can be arranged. Further photographs can be provided.
Preface
The White Castle of Louisiana’ is the diary of the daughter of John Hampden Randolph, owner of Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, Louisiana. Cornelia used M.R. Ailenroc (her first name spelled backwards and her maiden and married initials) as a pseudonym.
Cornelia wrote ‘The White Castle of Louisiana’ about her years living in the mansion her father had built.
About the Author
Born at Monticello, Cornelia Jefferson Randolph (1799-1871) was the fifth child and third surviving daughter of Martha Jefferson Randolph and Thomas Mann Randolph. Cornelia spent much of her time at the home of her grandfather Thomas Jefferson and, as a young girl, often accompanied him on visits to Poplar Forest. She learned mechanical drawing from Jefferson and practiced by creating renderings of architectural plans for the University of Virginia. When she was a teenager Cornelia gave John Hemmings a dictionary to aid him in learning to read and write.
Cornelia never married and lived at Tufton and then Edgehill, the homes of her older brother Thomas Jefferson Randolph. In the 1830s, in an effort to improve the family finances, a school was established at Edgehill where Cornelia taught drawing, painting, and sculpture. She later translated and edited ‘The Parlor Gardener: A Treatise on the House Culture of Ornamental Plants’. After the Civil War, Cornelia moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to live with two of her sisters at the home of her niece Martha Jefferson Trist Burke. She died there on February 24, 1871, and was buried in the Monticello Graveyard.
https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/cornelia-jefferson-randolph/
Cornelia was the daughter number seven (some say, daughter number five) of John Hampden Randolph. John Hampden Randolph had a LOT of money. In fact, if his wealth in his day was adjusted into today’s terms, he would have been richer than Donald Trump! He commissioned for a house to be built on his 7,116 acres in White Castle, Louisiana, which would be a visual showcase of his vast economic worth. It was to serve as a home for himself, his wife Emily Jane and their 11 children, as well as a place to lavishly entertain many influential guests.
Cornelia used M. R. Ailenroc (her Christian name spelled backwards and her maiden and married initials) as a pseudonym.
Cornelia, daughter number 7, wrote a book about her years living in this mansion under the pen name of M. R. Ailenroc, which is Cornelia spelled backwards with her maiden and married initials. The book is “The White Castle of Louisiana.”
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.