Long reads

These long reads explore different aspects of Henrietta Liston's life and writing. They reflect on the time period in which her journals were written, and set the journals in context.

Maureen Freely

A creative response by Professor Maureen Freely

Our sails are filled with borrowed words

Maureen Freely is a novelist, translator, campaigner and journalist. Maureen's piece is a creative response to Henrietta Liston's Turkish journals.

Read Maureen Freely's response
Donna Landry

An essay by Professor Donna Landry

Approaching Constantinople as a gateway to the East

Donna Landry is a literary and cultural historian of East-West exchanges. Donna's essay explores Lady Anne Blunt's fascination with Eastern travel and her relationship with the Ottoman Empire.

Read Donna Landry's essay
Gerald MacLean

An essay by Professor Gerald MacLean

British travellers approach Constantinople: First impressions

Gerald MacLean is a literary and cultural historian specialising in Anglo-Ottoman relations. Gerald's essay examines travellers' descriptions of visiting Istanbul.

Read Gerald MacLean's essay
Paul Benjamin Osterlund

An essay by Paul Benjamin Osterlund

Istanbul: Timelessness and change through the lens of Henrietta Liston

Paul Benjamin Osterlund is a freelance journalist, writer and translator based in Istanbul. Paul's essay explores change in Istanbul and reflects on Liston's experience of the city.

Read Paul Benjamin Osterlund's essay
Sara Sheridan

A short story by Sara Sheridan

The Encounter

Sara Sheridan is an author. Her books, which number over 20, include historical novels, murder mysteries, and Scottish women's history. Sara's short story imagines Henrietta Liston's return from her residency in the Ottoman Empire to Edinburgh society.

Read Sara Sheridan's short story
Ece Temelkuran

A letter from Ece Temelkuran

Dear Mrs Liston

Ece Temelkuran is a novelist and political commentator. Inspired by Henrietta Liston's journals and letters, Ece writes to Henrietta about her own experience of travel and writing while on the road.

Read Ece Temelkuran's letter
Heather H Yeung

An essay and poetry by Heather H Yeung

Under different skies

Heather H Yeung is a literary critic, theorist, poet, and artist book maker. Heather's essay explores Henrietta Liston's travel writing.

Read Heather H Yeung's essay and poetry
Frank Cogliano

An essay by Professor Frank Cogliano

Henrietta Liston and George Washington: A Special Relationship

Frank Cogliano is Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh. His essay considers British-American relations during the 1790s and the important friendship between Henrietta Liston and George Washington.

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Margaret Elphinstone

An essay by Professor Margaret Elphinstone

Henrietta Liston: One reader's response

Novelist Margaret Elphinstone is Emeritus Professor in the Department of English Studies at the University of Strathclyde. Her essay reflects on Henrietta Liston's life and on her journals and letters in the Liston Papers archive.

Read Margaret Elphinstone's essay
David J Black

An essay by David J Black

An infusion of Scotch: The Scottish neoclassical mantle and its Federal American cousin

David J Black is an author, journalist, and playwright based in Edinburgh and the USA. His essay examines Scottish-American connections in trade, education, medicine and architecture in colonial and post-colonial America.

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Genevieve Fabre

An interview with Geneviève Fabre

Voilà une longue vie!

Geneviève Fabre's experience of the French diplomatic service spans four decades and as many continents. This interview reflects on the role of the diplomatic couple and on changes to diplomacy since the 18th century.

Read Geneviève Fabre's interview
Louis Kirk McAuley

An essay by Dr Louis Kirk McAuley

A gardener's 'Paradise': Henrietta Marchant Liston's Caribbean travel diary

Louis Kirk McAuley is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Washington State University. His essay examines Henrietta Liston's portrayal of life in the West Indies and her interest in the area's natural history.

Read Louis Kirk McAuley's essay
Christopher Minty

An essay by Dr Christopher Minty

Henrietta Marchant Liston and the decline of Franco-American relations, ca 1796-1798

Christopher Minty is an Assistant Editor at 'The Adams Papers' at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston. His essay looks at the Franco-America relations that defined the Listons' experience of the United States.

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Robert Liston portrait by Gilbert Stuart

Robert Liston

Henrietta Liston portrait by Gilbert Stuart

Henrietta Liston

This influential couple moved in circles that included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

About the Listons