Women Novelists of Queen Victoria's Reign: A Book of Appreciations Read online

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  WOMEN NOVELISTS

  _Of_

  QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN

  Women Novelists

  _Of_

  Queen Victoria's Reign

  _A Book of Appreciations_

  By

  Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. Lynn Linton Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Macquoid, Mrs. Parr Mrs. Marshall, Charlotte M. Yonge Adeline Sergeant & Edna Lyall

  London

  Hurst & Blackett, Limited 13 Great Marlborough Street 1897

  _ALL RIGHTS RESERVED_

  Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.

  At the Ballantyne Press

  CONTENTS

  THE SISTERS BRONTE _By_ MRS. OLIPHANT _Page_ 1

  GEORGE ELIOT _By_ MRS. LYNN LINTON _Page_ 61

  MRS. GASKELL _By_ EDNA LYALL _Page_ 117

  MRS. CROWE MRS. ARCHER CLIVE MRS. HENRY WOOD _By_ ADELINE SERGEANT _Page_ 149

  LADY GEORGIANA FULLERTON MRS. STRETTON ANNE MANNING _By_ CHARLOTTE M. YONGE _Page_ 193

  DINAH MULOCK (MRS. CRAIK) _By_ MRS. PARR _Page_ 217

  JULIA KAVANAGH AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS _By_ MRS. MACQUOID _Page_ 249

  MRS. NORTON _By_ MRS. ALEXANDER _Page_ 275

  "A. L. O. E." (MISS TUCKER) MRS. EWING _By_ MRS. MARSHALL _Page_ 291

  PUBLISHERS' NOTE

  _Having been concerned for many years in the publication of works offiction by feminine writers, it has occurred to us to offer, as ourcontribution to the celebration of "the longest Reign," a volume havingfor its subject leading Women Novelists of the Victorian Era._

  _In the case of living lady fictionists, it is too early to assess themerit or forecast the future of their works. The present book,therefore, is restricted to Women Novelists deceased._

  _It was further necessary to confine the volume within reasonablelimits, and it was decided, consequently, that it should deal only withWomen who did all their work in Fiction after the accession of theQueen. This decision excludes not only such writers as Lady Morgan, Mrs.Opie, Miss Ferrier, Miss Mitford, Mrs. Shelley, and Miss Jane Porter,who, although they died after 1837, published all their most notablestories early in the century; but also such writers as Mrs. Gore, Mrs.Bray, Mrs. S. C. Hall, Mrs. Trollope, Lady Blessington, and Mrs. Marsh,who made their debuts as novelists between 1823 and 1834._

  _As regards some of the last-named, it might be urged that the worksthey produced have now no interest other than historical, and can besaid to live only so far as they embody more or less accuratedescriptions of Society early in the Reign. The "Deerbrook" and "TheHour and the Man" of Miss Martineau are still remembered, and, perhaps,still read; but it is as a political economist and miscellaneous writer,rather than as a Novelist, that their author ranks in literature; whileof the tales by Miss Pardoe, Miss Geraldine Jewsbury, and others onceequally popular, scarcely the titles are now recollected._

  _On the other hand, the eminence and permanence of the Brontes, GeorgeEliot, and Mrs. Gaskell are universally recognised; the popularity ofMrs. Craik and Mrs. Henry Wood is still admittedly great; thepersonality of Mrs. Norton will always send students to her works; Mrs.Crowe and Mrs. Clive were pioneers in domestic and "sensational"fiction; Lady Georgiana Fullerton produced a typical religious novel;Miss Manning made pleasing and acceptable the autobiographico-historicalnarrative; the authors of "The Valley of a Hundred Fires" of "Barbara'sHistory," and of "Adele" have even now their readers and admirers; while"A. L. O. E." and Mrs. Ewing were among the most successful caterers forthe young._

  _It has seemed to us that value as well as interest would attach tocritical estimates of and biographical notes upon, these representativeNovelists, supplied by living mistresses of the craft; and we are gladto have been able to secure for the purpose, the services of thecontributors to this volume, all of whom may claim to discourse withsome authority upon the art they cultivate. It is perhaps scarcelynecessary to say that each contributor is responsible only for the essayto which her name is appended._

  THE SISTERS BRONTE

  _By_ MRS. OLIPHANT