Women Novelists Of Queen Victoria's Reign: A Book Of Appreciations

Women Novelists of Queen Victorias Reign A Book of Appreciations Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. Lynn in ton Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Macquoid, Mrs. Parr Mrs. Marshall, Charlotte M. Yonge Adeline Sergeant Edna Lyall London Hurst Blackett, Limited 13 Great Marlborough Street -- I897 -- CONTENTS THE SISTERS BRONTE By MRS. OLIPHANT Page I GEORGE ELIOT By MRS L . YNN L INTON POZ 6 I MRS. GASKELL By EDNA L YALL MRS. CROWE MRS. ARCHER CLIVE MRS. HENRY WOOD By ADELINSEE RGEANT Page I I7 LADY GEORGIANA FULLERTON MRS. STRETTON ANNE MANNING 2 y CHARLOTT M E . YONGE Page 193 v C O N T E N T S DINAH MULOCK MRS. CRAIK By MRS. PARR Page 2 17 JULIA KAVANAGH AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS By MRS. M A C O I D Page 249 MRS. NORTON By MRS. ALEXANDER Page 2 7 5 A. L. 0. E. MISS TUCKER MRS. EWING By MRS. MARSHALL Page 29 I PUBLISHERS NOTE HAVING been concerned for many years in the publication of works of fiction by feminine writers, it has occurred to us to offer, as our contribution to the celebration of the longest Reign, a volume having for its subject leading Women Novelists of the Victorian Era. In the case of living lady fctionists, it is too early to assess the merit 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 reasonable limits, and it was decided, consepuent y, that it should deal only with Women who did all their work in Fiction after the accession of the Queen. This decision excludes not only such writers as Lady Morgan, Mrs. Opie, Miss Ferrier, Miss Mirford, Mrs. Shelley, and Miss Jane Porter, who, although vii b PUBLISHERS NOTE they died afier I 837, published all their most notable stories earhin 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 buts as novelists between 1823 and 1834-As regards some of the last-named, it might be urged that the works they produced have now no interest other than historical, and can be said to live only so far as they embody more or less accurate descriptions of Society early in the Reign. The Deerbrook and The Hour 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 while of the tales by Miss Pardoe, Miss Geraldine Jewsbury, and others once equnlb popular, scarcely the titles are now recollected. On the other hand, the eminence and permanence of the Brotztl, George Eliot, and Mrs. Gaskell are universally recognised the popularity of Mrs. Craik and Mrs. Henry Wood is still admittedly great the personality of Mrs. Norton will always send students to her works Mrs. Cro. we and Mrs. Clive were viii PUBLISHERS NOTE pioneers in domestic and sensational fition Lady Georgians FulZerton produced a typical religious novel Miss Manning made pleasing and acceptable the autobiographico-historical narrative the authors of The Valley of a Hundred Fires, of Barkras History, and of A Ze, have even now their readers and admirers while A. L. 0. E. and Mrs. Ewing were among d e most successful caterers for the young. It has seemed t o us that value as well as interest would attach to critical estimates of, and biographical notes upon, these representative Novelists, supplied by living mistresses of the craft and we are gladto have been able to secure for the purpose, the services of the contributors to this volume, aN of whom may claim to discourse with some authorig upon the art they cultivate. It is perhaps carceZy necessary to say that each contributor is responsible only for the essay to which her name is appended. THE SISTERS BRONTE By MRS...