LONDON: WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE, E.C.,

NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, AND SYDNEY.

1893.

(All rights reserved.)

PREFACE.

THE First Series of Women Writers: their Works ana Ways has been so favourably received that I am encouraged to offer the Second Series, in the hope that it may be found equally interesting. My object is the same-to give the life-stories of some celebrated authoresses, to tell how they gained success, and how they enjoyed it.

As we advance farther into the nineteenth century, we do not find that gaiety, that intense joy of living which are so characteristic of Fanny Burney and Lady Morgan. Our women writers have become less amusing; they are terribly in earnest, much impressed with the seriousness of life, and with difficult social problems.

I am well aware that many notable names have been unavoidably left out, so many that, in course of time, it may be necessary to add a Third Series of Women Writers: their Works and Ways.

I have taken great pains to ascertain correct dates. In almost all the short biographical notices of Mrs. Hemans the date of her birth is given as 1794, on the sole authority of Mr. W. F. Chorley, who only knew her during the later years of her life. Her sister, Mrs. Hughes, in her memoir of Mrs. Hemans, says distinctly 1793. She had the best opportunity of knowing, as the sisters were brought up together, so her authority seems to me quite conclusive.

The difference between the ages of Robert and Elizabeth

Browning is usually said to be six years, but as he was born in 1812, and she, according to the best authorities, in 1809, the difference in their ages could only be three years.

I am deeply indebted to Miss Gaskell, not only for revising my sketch of her mother, but also for several valuable notes. She has also entirely re-written the translation of her letter to Madame Mohl about the Lancashire distress. Our knowledge of Mrs. Gaskell's private life has hitherto been so very scanty that I am glad to be able to offer this slight but, I am glad to say, thoroughly accurate account of one of our best and purest women writers. Miss Gaskell has also most kindly allowed me to reproduce Richmond's portrait of Mrs. Gaskell, which is the best likeness that exists.

I am much indebted to Mr. Cross for allowing the portrait in his second volume of The Life of George Eliot to be copied. From his interesting book I have gleaned most of the information about George Eliot and her works. From the Life, Letters, and Journals of Louisa Alcott, edited by Ednah D. Cheney, the information about the author of Little Women has been chiefly collected.

I am under deep obligations to Miss Helen Blackburn, editor of the Englishwomen's Review, for lending an engraving of Hayter's picture of the Hon. Mrs. Norton, from which the likeness in this volume has been taken. She has also lent Richmond's portrait of Harriet Martineau, and has supplied many useful hints about the other portraits.