Dear Sir- I must write and thank you, and ask you to thank the writer of the very kind and appreciative notice of my books.

The balance, of praise and detection of weakness (though most kindly letting the former preponderate) is just what I have wished to see. I think that what pleases me best is the full recognition that the religious and conscientious men of the stories had their actual counterparts, and though no doubt needing ... continue reading

Dear M. E. C. I feel strongly impelled to write to you both to thank you for your letter and for St. Christopher's legend. A German lady once sent me a set of photographs of frescoes of his history, where he was going through all sorts of temptations, including one by evil women.

I think I must tell you that the Daisy Chain was written just when I was fresh from the influence and guiding of ... continue reading

Dear Miss Christie, I think I must lend you my Fairy Bower. It was written, as you see, nearly sixty years ago, before the Oxford Movement had become a visible fact, by Mrs. Thomas Mozley, while her husband was vicar of Cholderton. She was Harriet Newman, and though the little book is quite in children's form, it was such as none but a Newman could write.

A little girl, Grace Leslie, goes with her widow ... continue reading

Dear Miss Christie- If I could I would help you to an autograph, but I have long ago given away such of Mr. Keble's as were not too personal and precious, and I do not think I have any left except some scraps of correction on the proofs of hymns in the Child's Christian Year, such as you would hardly care for.

I well know the pressure of Guardian books, but as I am as devoted to ... continue reading

My dear Miss Christie

I had just been thinking of you, being reminded of your work by the review of Mrs. Ritchie's book, one which carries one along with it entirely, though I am not sure that her power is not greater in sketches of character in real life than in the construction of stories. Indeed she is too true to nature to satisfy one always with poetical justice, which, after all, one does ... continue reading