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.
Jany 29th 1876

Dear Mrs Greene

It is very prettily described but I am afraid the revulsion of feeling is too painful so I think I had better not accept it.

The Copyright of your stories remains with you, and you are quite welcome to publish them separately

yours truly C M Yonge

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Elderfield, Otterbourne, Winchester.
March 3d [1887?]

My dear Edith

I want to tell the SSW of a lovely book that has been sent to Gertrude by another invalid. It is called 'the Sermon in the Hospital', and can be had from Kegan Paul for 3d or 20s for 25 copies. It is in blank verse and is an extract from a poem by a Mrs Hamilton King, called the Disciples I am sorry to say they were Mazzini's ... continue reading

Elderfield Otterbourne
March 11 [1890s?]

My dear Hannah Helen has returned from her wanderings, of course having caught cold by the way, but it is just going off. Could you come over to tea, either on Saturday, Monday or Tuesday - and see her. Frances and the little boys start on the 21st of April

Yours affectionately, C M Yonge

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Elderfield, Otterbourne, Winchester.
Aug 2d 1878

Dear Mr Craik

Will you let Miss Carter Smith as before order some of the Scripture Readings at the price to the trade.

I wish Clay would finish off that last volume. He always sends me a proof when I am busy. I send more copy. Then he stops for another 3 months. I have now finished within about 12 chapters, but I shall be in Devonshire after Tuesday for 6 weeks, however a letter here will ... continue reading