A must have for anyone interested in the best Victorian authors; even those not popularized by film and television. Meticulously researched, with refrences to many sources; including interviews, official documents, and Rita's own novels. Mrs W. Desmond Humphreys, 1850-1938 (she was not born in 1860, as is incorrectly stated by several sources), was known to her public as "Rita". Like many authors, Rita went out of fashion in the 1930s, and has since been unfairly neglected.
Rita was a very famous and popular author during her lifetime; her Asenath of the Ford (published in 1892) was proclaimed by the critics of the time to be a second Lorna Doone. She was as prolific as Eden Phillpotts, and much of her work is found to be of a very high standard; some of her novels were published by Charles Dickens's son. Queen Alexandria ordered velum bound copies of her books, and Queen Mary ordered a complete set of her works. Her 1903 novel Souls was a satire of the society smart set; and her 1909 novel Calvary raised issues concerning the church. Rita's Asenath of the Ford has to be one of the best novels that I have ever read; she also published some books concerning spiritualism.
Rita approved of the female suffrage movement; but not of the militant form, which came into being in around 1910; she was by then 60, and suffering from rheumatism. She was one of the earliest members of the Lyceum Club, one of the first clubs for women.
This book covers her whole life story in detail; from her birth in Scotland, to her death near Bath. Included are full listings of her prose, plays, and music.
This book also contains information relating to Marie Corelli.
Also available in illustrated printed book form; from Amazon.com.
Rita was a very famous and popular author during her lifetime; her Asenath of the Ford (published in 1892) was proclaimed by the critics of the time to be a second Lorna Doone. She was as prolific as Eden Phillpotts, and much of her work is found to be of a very high standard; some of her novels were published by Charles Dickens's son. Queen Alexandria ordered velum bound copies of her books, and Queen Mary ordered a complete set of her works. Her 1903 novel Souls was a satire of the society smart set; and her 1909 novel Calvary raised issues concerning the church. Rita's Asenath of the Ford has to be one of the best novels that I have ever read; she also published some books concerning spiritualism.
Rita approved of the female suffrage movement; but not of the militant form, which came into being in around 1910; she was by then 60, and suffering from rheumatism. She was one of the earliest members of the Lyceum Club, one of the first clubs for women.
This book covers her whole life story in detail; from her birth in Scotland, to her death near Bath. Included are full listings of her prose, plays, and music.
This book also contains information relating to Marie Corelli.
Also available in illustrated printed book form; from Amazon.com.
