Charlotte Mary Yonge
Although now, most of her published works are no longer in print, one of the most prolific female novelists of the Victorian Era was Charlotte Mary Yonge who was born in Hampshire, England on August 11th 1823. Raised in Otterburne, Hampshire in a religious devout family, she has been sometimes referred to as one of the greatest leaders in the Oxford movement. Furthermore, she herself often referred to herself in that capacity as many of her novels reflected the Anglo-Catholicism values.
Charlotte Yonge’s first published book was released in 1848 and she continued to write almost 100 books of which the majority were novels before the end of her life. Her first successful book though was not published until 1854 under the title of The Heir of Redclyffe. The money she made from this book was spent on charities mainly covering the cost of a schooner called Southern Cross which was sailed by George Selwyn. Throughout her life, not only did she write her own novels, but for almost forty years she also took a seat as an editor for the Monthly Packet which was a magazine dedicated to young ladies.
She also made a serious attempt at a book which was considered to be a first entitled History of Christian Names. It was from this book, that the Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names would be based from. The Oxford Dictionary was released in 1944, and although more than half a century passed since her initial writing of the book, the research into the meaning of Christian names continued until the Oxford Dictionary was able to publish their first volume on the subject.
Her works at the time were often admired by many of the great Victorian Era writers such as Sir Alfred Tennyson as well as Henry James. Though most of her works no longer are in print, the beliefs that they instilled have led many generations of writers down a good path. Furthermore, her influence on people around her, led her god-daughter, Alice Coleridge to found the Abbots Bromley School for Girls.
Upon her death, Charlotte Mary Yonge’s closest friend and personal assistant published her biography entitled Charlotte Mary Yonge: her Life and Letters, which was released in 1903.
Original Authors: Globel Team (Nick)
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 23/07/2008
