Biography Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon

Poet Biography

Rosanna Eleanor (Mullins) Leprohon was both a poet and novelist. Born in Montreal in 1829, Rosanna Mullins was educated at the convent of the Congregation of Notre Dame. In 1851 she married Dr. Jean-Lucien Leprohon. They lived for a few years in St. Charles-sur-Richelieu before returning to Montreal. Thirteen children were born to them, of which only eight survived. Mrs. Leprohon died in Montreal on 20th September 1879.

As a teenager, encouraged by the nuns who taught her, Rosanna began to publish poems and stories in the Literary Garland. Her first novel, 'Ida Beresford', appeared in the Garland in nine installments during 1848. In 1859-60 her second novel, 'The Manor House of De Villerai'. 'A Tale of Canada Under the French Dominion', was published in installments by the Montreal Family Herald. 'Antoinette de Mirecourt' or, 'Secret Marrying and Secret Sorrowing', and 'Armand Durand' or, 'A Promise Fulfilled' were published by Lovell in 1864 and 1868 respectively. 'Ada Dunmore' appeared in installments in the Canadian Illustrated News in 1869-70.

In 1881, after her death, 'The Poetical Works of Mrs. Leprohon' was edited by the poet John Reade and published by Lovell. John Reade concluded that "Mrs. Leprohon was much more than either a poet or a novelist - she was also, in the highest sense, a woman, a lady".