Johnstone, Isobel (1781–1857)

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Johnstone, Isobel (1781–1857)

Scottish writer. Name variations: Mrs. Christian Isobel Johnstone; (pseudonym) Mistress Margaret Dods. Born 1781 in Fife, Scotland; died 1857 in Edinburgh; m. John Johnstone (printer and newspaper editor).

Began working for husband's newspaper Inverness Courier; published 1st novel The Saxon and the Gaël (1814), then wrote Clan-Albin, A National Tale (1815) and historical novel Elizabeth de Bruce (1827); had great success with collection of short fiction Edinburgh Tales; as journalist, wrote for Schoolmaster, Johnstone's Magazine and Tait's Magazine; perhaps best-known for her immensely popular The Cook and Housewife's Manual (also known as Meg Dod's Cookery) in which she used characters from Sir Walter Scott's St. Ronan's Well to give commentary on preparing national specialties.