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...
I put the scholars first because the connection began with so many as scholars. As I looked round I could see among the party two (at least) who had been my mother’s scholars when she first began her Sunday class in what is now Miss Missellbrook’s kitchen, about sixty five years ago. I can just remember sitting by her there, when you used to ... continue reading
My dear Miss Smith
I found your MS here yesterday on my return from a two months expedition into Yorkshire and Devonshire. I think it is a pretty bright description, and the history of the contending organs is very entertaining, the only pity is that it is too late for December. I hope you have had a chapter of the Thorne. I find it is much liked and I am glad to see you in the ... continue reading
My dear Mary I hope you accomplished meeting Jane Moore after all, though the hitting off the right time with any Colborne is so difficult, I wonder whether Jane looks as bright and fresh as ever. We are going through a grave time- When the Woollcombes came at the end of April, Gertrude was in the midst of a very bad sick fit, however she began to revive, and they went away on Monday ... continue reading
My dear Miss Gatty,
The Signora Linda Villari wife to Professor Villari at Florence sent me this pretty little sketch of a real favourite bird. It is too youthful for the Packet, but I think you will like to open a connection with her, as she writes prettily and freshly. I enclose a card she sent with her address. She wrote a very pretty story once for the Packet called the Angel of Viareggio.
I hope you ... continue reading