ABSTRACT
Augusta Eleanor Keeling Edwards, popularly known as Eleanor Keeling, was included as one of the worryingly long list of socialist women whose health collapsed under the strains imposed by the rigours of public speaking and activity, alongside Eleanor Marx, Caroline Martyn and Enid Stacy. Unlike Katherine St John Conway and Enid Stacy who became increasingly closely identified with the Independent Labour Party, Keeling's activities remained broad-based and serve to illustrate the rich diversity and inter-organizational connections which characterized socialism. Keeling's published writings (some of which appeared under pseudonyms) can be found in the socialist press, and there are occasional comments about her from other prominent socialists which offer us some insight into her personality. The only surviving fragments available include a small amount of correspondence of a mixed political and personal nature. This chapter focuses on this correspondence in an attempt to explore what letters to an individual can help discern about the personality and concerns of the recipient.
