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 BRONTË
  By Mrs. OliphantPage   1
  
  
• GEORGE ELIOT
  By Mrs. Lynn LintonPage  61
  
  
• MRS. GASKELL
  By Edna LyallPage 117
  
  
• MRS. CROWE
  MRS. ARCHER CLIVE
  MRS. HENRY WOOD
  By Adeline SergeantPage 149
  
  
• LADY GEORGIANA FULLERTON
  MRS. STRETTON
  ANNE MANNING
  By Charlotte M. YongePage 193
  

• DINAH MULOCK (MRS. CRAIK)
  By Mrs. ParrPage 217
  
  
• JULIA KAVANAGH
  AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS
  By Mrs. MacquoidPage 249
  
  
• MRS. NORTON
  By Mrs. AlexanderPage 275
  
  
• "A. L. O. E." (MISS TUCKER)
  MRS. EWING
  By Mrs. MarshallPage 291
  

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 fictionists, 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, consequently, 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 Mitford, Mrs. Shelley, and Miss Jane Porter, who, although they died after 1837, published all their most notable stories 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 débuts 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 equally popular, scarcely the titles are now recollected.

On the other hand, the eminence and permanence of the Brontës, 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. 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-historical narrative; the authors of "The Valley of a Hundred Fires" of "Barbara's History," and of "Adèle" have even now their readers and admirers; while "A. L. O. E." and Mrs. Ewing were among the most successful caterers for the young.

It has seemed to 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 glad to have been able to secure for the purpose, the services of the contributors to this volume, all of whom may claim to discourse with some authority upon the art they cultivate. It is perhaps scarcely necessary to say that each contributor is responsible only for the essay to which her name is appended.

THE SISTERS BRONTË

By MRS. OLIPHANT

he effect produced upon the general mind by the appearance of Charlotte Brontë in literature, and afterwards by the record of her life when that was over, is one which it is nowadays somewhat difficult to understand. Had the age been deficient in the art of fiction, or had it followed any long level of mediocrity in that art, we could have comprehended this more