Parks, Fanny Paintings

Fanny Parks, also known as Fanny Parkes and by her married name Fanny Parkes Parlby, was a British travel writer known for her works on India during the British Raj. Born as Frances Susanna Archer in 1794 in Wales, she was the daughter of a British army officer. In 1822, Fanny married Charles Crawford Parks, an official of the East India Company, which led to her long association with India.

Fanny Parks is best remembered for her extensive travels in the Indian subcontinent and the book she wrote detailing her experiences, 'Wanderings of a Pilgrim, in Search of the Picturesque, During Four-and-Twenty Years in the East; With Revelations of Life in the Zenana'. Published in 1850, the book provides valuable insights into daily life in India during the mid-19th century, particularly from the perspective of a Western woman. Her observations covered a wide range of subjects including Indian culture, religion, politics, natural history, and the plight of Indian women.

Parks was known for her curiosity and adventurous spirit. She immersed herself in the local culture, learned to speak Hindi, and often dressed in Indian attire, which was unusual for a British woman of her time. Her writings express a genuine affection and respect for the Indian people and their customs, contrasting with the more common imperialistic views of other British writers of the era.

After her husband's death in 1845, Parks continued to live in India for several years before returning to England. Her book is not only a travelogue but also an important document for understanding the complexities of Anglo-Indian relations and the effects of British colonialism. Fanny Parks passed away in 1875, but she left behind a legacy as one of the few female voices to document the East during the era of British colonialism, providing a unique and personal perspective on a period of significant historical change.