Charlotte Yonge is one of the most influential and important of Victorian women writers; but study of her work has been handicapped by a tendency to patronise both her and her writing, by the vast number of her publications and by a shortage of information about her professional career. Scholars have had to depend mainly on the work of her first biographer, a loyal disciple, a situation which has long been felt to be unsatisfactory. We hope that this edition of her correspondence will provide for the first time a substantial foundation of facts for the study of her fiction, her historical and educational writing and her journalism, and help to illuminate her biography and also her significance in the cultural and religious history of the Victorian age.
Featured Letters...
My dear Miss Smith
Thank you much I will keep the story for the final selection. I think the mistake is excellently done, but I am not sure that the girls’ taking the journey on purpose to defy Mr Ritchie is not too dreadful.
I am so glad you have brought out Dulcibella again
yours sincerely C M Yonge
... continue readingMy dear Christabel
I never did expect the debate in time for June, only we should have had a question. It may be as well to reserve those two letters in case of need for August. I fancied you knew that Annie Cazenove is the Muffin man I think she is one of the very best and most selfdevoted people in the world, but she had the disadvantage of being the only ... continue reading
My dear Mr Macmillan, Many, many thanks[.] the birthday for which the Heroes were wanted comes tomorrow, so nothing can be more convenient. The Lances look very well
Yours sincerely C M Yonge
... continue readingMy dear Madam
I well remember the apprentice system in Devonshire (where to this day they call farm boys apprentices though I don’t believe they are so) I believe it was a good thing that the system was done away with for the farmers were apt to be very harsh with them. My grandfather, as a magistrate had continually to hear complaints about their being flogged. The people who might have done them good seldom had ... continue reading