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...

Elderfield, Otterbourne, Winchester
September 30, 1868
My dear Marianne Mr. Wither is at the Hospital to-day or he would have written to you; he will write on Saturday. Meantime there is only to say that we are quiet and even cheerful, going to church and walking in the garden and talking over many things. Julian and Frances all kindness. I shall probably return to Puslinch with Anne, but there is much to set in order, and Julian and I are executors together. ... continue reading
Dear Miss Yonge,                                                                  I am sending [illegible] to you to I would do nothing to explain the [illegible]. Leave it as it is. That is my present feeling. But we can see how it strikes you a little later. In the meantime you shall see ... continue reading
Elderfield Otterbourne
Decr 27th 1897

My dear Cousin Arthur Charlotte F Yonge tells me that you are anxious to know what I think of your daughter’s book. Of course I looked it up at once in the Swedish history which, equally of course, was too small to give all the details, though there was quite enough to see that she had full authority for all she said.

The first scene is wonderful, it reminds me nothing so much as that where the ... continue reading

H.V.,
St. Peter’s Day [29 June], 1855.

My dear Charlotte, We shall send K.Charles back to-morrow or the next day, with many thanks.

It is very interesting, but I own I think the conclusion rather lame and impotent, and I think most people would consider the Marquis as the hero of the Conference.

I send 4 or 5 copies of our Missionary notice for Wednesday, for those who may be supposed likely to have interest enough in the work to make an offering . . ... continue reading