Catherine Stepney | |
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 Lady Catherine Stepney byRichard Cockle Lucas | |
| Born | (1778-12-23)23 December 1778 |
| Died | 14 April 1845(1845-04-14) (aged 66) London |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Catherine Manners |
Catherine Stepney (23 December 1778 – 14 April 1845) was a British novelist.
Catherine Pollok was born inGrittleton, Wiltshire in 1778. Her first husband wasRussell Manners, whom she divorced. In 1813 she married Sir Thomas Stepney who was the ninth and as it turned out the lastStepney baronet, ofPrendergast. He was agroom of the bed-chamber to theDuke of York and he died without issue in 1825.
Stepney is credited with writing six novels, butMary Mitford claimed that Stepney's drafts were honed and polished byLetitia Elizabeth Landon.[1] She wrote two novels during her first marriage, and four known as thesilver fork novels after her second marriage were about the high society she frequented.[1][2]
Stepney was known as a hostess because her house was a meeting place for London's artistic and literary society.[1] In 1836 she modelled for a bust byRichard Cockle Lucas who portrayed her asCleopatra. This bust is now in theVictoria and Albert Museum.[3] The National Portrait Gallery has a painting of her made byJohn Hayter.[4]
Stepney died in London on 14 April 1845.[1][5] After her death there were accounts of how she was unaware that her novels were not always well regarded.[6]
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