Cook Eliza

Cook, Eliza, was born in Southwark in 1818, being the daughter of a well-to-do merchant. She began to write in her childhood, and at an early age contributed tales, verses, and articles to The New Monthly Magazine and other periodicals. In 1838 she published a volume of poems under the title of Melaia and Other Poems. A second volume appeared in 1864, and a third, called Diamond Dust, in 1865. From 1849 to 1854 she edited Eliza Cook's Journal, but gave it up owing to failing health. Her style is simple, not to say common-place, but it attracted the uncritical public, with whom her songs such as "The Old Arm Chair" and "Home in the Heart" were great favourites. She died in 1889, having for five-and-twenty years enjoyed a pension of £100 on the Civil List.