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...
Miss Yonge is much obliged to Mr Bourn for sending her several reviews and critical notices of Hopes & Fears.
She would be glad to know how the sale of the work has been proceeding.
Miss Yonge would be much obliged if Mr Bourn would inform her whether Mr Parker is pretty well, and also to express to him her sincere regrets and condolence
... continue readingMy dear Miss Keary Here I am in the depths of Devonshire which must account for my not having sooner answered your letter. We both got out of sorts and wanted a change so here we are, thinking this beautiful county infinitely more beautiful in spring than in autumn, the red earth and young green contrast so beautifully together.
I think it does seem wise to complete the Scandinavian sketches with Magnus, and the Siamese bits that ... continue reading
Dear Mr Macmillan The lack of a tiger is serious. I mourned it as I read, and yet I thought it shewed some strength of mind to have avoided any ordinary ingredients of excitement. And when we were reading many books aloud, I certainly found this answer better than many with a more direct selling element did, and the freshness of descriptions to me compensated for want of incident. Will you kindly direct it to [[person:1437]Mrs ... continue reading
My dear Florence
As next Tuesday is a Saint's day, perhaps I had better say that the boy would not find me at home, as the first Tuesday in every month there is a meeting of the High School committee. On all Thursday afternoons till Easter I have to be at the mother's meeting, and indeed we are so eaten up with preparing for the examinations that I can answer for no afternoons in February ... continue reading