Born into a family of the Portuguese Jewish community of England, Aguilar distinguished herself as a poet and author of a number of novels. "The Magic Wreath", her book of poetry was published anonymously in 1835. Her later output was remarkable, although most of her books were published posthumously. Jewish identity and chapters from the Jewish history dominate the themes of her novels, as in "The Vale of Cedars" - a highly romantic story of the crypto-Jewish life in Spain. Other writings dealing with Jewish motives include "Women of Israel", a series of short biographies based on biblical characters and addressed chiefly to Jewish women. Aguilar translated into English the apologetic work of Isaac Orobio de Castro and composed herself a number of works in defense of Judaism: "The Spirit of Judaism: In Defense of Her Faith and Its Professors" and "The Jewish Faith". Her other projects included the writing of a history of the Jews in England, of which she managed to complete only a few chapters.

HFG

Bibliography:

AGUILAR, Grace. The days of Bruce. 2 vols. New York: D. Appleton and company, 1879.

AGUILAR, Grace. Home scenes and heart studies. Pp. vi, 399. New York: D. Appleton, 1873.

AGUILAR, Grace. The Jewish faith; its spiritual consolation, moral guidance and immortal hope... [n.p.] 1864.

AGUILAR, Grace. Essays and miscellanies. Selected excerpts from the manuscripts of Grace Aguilar... Selected by her mother, Sarah Aguilar. Pp. ix, 15-310. Philadelphia: A. Hart, 1853.

AGUILAR, Grace. Woman's friendship; a story of domestic life. Pp. 357. New-York: D. Appleton & Company, 1857.

SCHEINBERG, Cynthia. Women's poetry and religion in Victorian England: Jewish identity and Christian culture. Pp. ix, 275. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Links:

Grace Aguilar - Poet, Novelist and Theologian

Grace Aguilar

Grace Aguilar - Jewish voice