Ellen Wood (author)
Encyclopedia
Ellen Wood was an English novelist, better known as "Mrs. Henry Wood". She is best known for her 1861 novel East Lynne
.
in 1814. In 1836 she married Henry Wood, who worked in the banking and shipping trade in Dauphiné
in the South of France, where they lived for 20 years. On the failure of Wood's business, the family (including four children) returned to England, settling in Norwood
in London, and Ellen Wood turned to writing. This supported the family (Henry Wood died in 1866). She wrote over 30 novels, many of which (especially East Lynne
), enjoyed remarkable popularity. Among the best known of her stories are Danesbury House, Oswald Cray, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles, The Channings
, Lord Oakburn's Daughters and The Shadow of Ashlydyat. In 1867, Wood purchased the English magazine Argosy, which had been founded by Alexander Strahan in 1865. She wrote much of the magazine herself, but other contributors included Hesba Stretton
, Julia Kavanagh
, Christina Rossetti
, Sarah Doudney
and Rosa Nouchette Carey
. Wood continued as its editor until her death in 1887, when her son Charles Wood took over. At her death (caused by bronchitis
) her estate was valued at over £36,000, then a very considerable sum.
Her works were translated into many languages. In a 9 March 1872 letter to his older brother Sergei, Leo Tolstoy
noted that he was "reading Mrs. Wood's wonderful novel In the Maze".
After her death, she was buried in Highgate Cemetery
, London. In 1916 a monument to Mrs. Wood was inaugurated in Worcester Cathedral
.
East Lynne
East Lynne is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood. East Lynne was a Victorian bestseller. It is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centering on infidelity and double identities...
.
Life
Ellen Price was born in WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
in 1814. In 1836 she married Henry Wood, who worked in the banking and shipping trade in Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
in the South of France, where they lived for 20 years. On the failure of Wood's business, the family (including four children) returned to England, settling in Norwood
Norwood
- Australia :* Norwood Secondary College, Secondary School in Ringwood, Victoria.* Norwood, South Australia, suburb of Adelaide**Electoral district of Norwood, a state electoral district in South Australia...
in London, and Ellen Wood turned to writing. This supported the family (Henry Wood died in 1866). She wrote over 30 novels, many of which (especially East Lynne
East Lynne
East Lynne is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood. East Lynne was a Victorian bestseller. It is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centering on infidelity and double identities...
), enjoyed remarkable popularity. Among the best known of her stories are Danesbury House, Oswald Cray, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles, The Channings
The Channings (novel)
The Channings is an 1862 novel by the British writer Ellen Wood. A man takes responsibility for a theft he believes his brother has committed. His brother is really innocent of the crime, and the real culprit is later caught.-Adaptation:...
, Lord Oakburn's Daughters and The Shadow of Ashlydyat. In 1867, Wood purchased the English magazine Argosy, which had been founded by Alexander Strahan in 1865. She wrote much of the magazine herself, but other contributors included Hesba Stretton
Hesba Stretton
Hesba Stretton was the pen name of Sarah Smith , an English writer of children's books. She concocted the name from the initials of her five siblings and the name of a neighbouring village.-Early life:...
, Julia Kavanagh
Julia Kavanagh
Julia Kavanagh was an Irish novelist, born at Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland.-Biography:She was the daughter of Morgan Peter Kavanagh , author of various philological works and some poems...
, Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti
Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
, Sarah Doudney
Sarah Doudney
Sarah Doudney was an English novelist and poet, best known as a children's writer and hymnwriter....
and Rosa Nouchette Carey
Rosa Nouchette Carey
Rosa Nouchette Carey was an English children's novelist.-Life:Born in Stratford-le-Bow, Rosa was the sixth of the seven children of William Henry Carey , shipbroker, and his wife, Maria Jane , daughter of Edward J. Wooddill. She was brought up in London at Tryons Road, Hackney, Middlesex and in...
. Wood continued as its editor until her death in 1887, when her son Charles Wood took over. At her death (caused by bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
) her estate was valued at over £36,000, then a very considerable sum.
Her works were translated into many languages. In a 9 March 1872 letter to his older brother Sergei, Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
noted that he was "reading Mrs. Wood's wonderful novel In the Maze".
After her death, she was buried in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
, London. In 1916 a monument to Mrs. Wood was inaugurated in Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
.
Works
These are the first published UK editions as catalogued by the British Library:- Danesbury House (1860)
- East LynneEast LynneEast Lynne is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood. East Lynne was a Victorian bestseller. It is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centering on infidelity and double identities...
(1861) - The Elchester College Boys (1861)
- A Life's Secret (1862)
- Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles (1862)
- The ChanningsThe Channings (novel)The Channings is an 1862 novel by the British writer Ellen Wood. A man takes responsibility for a theft he believes his brother has committed. His brother is really innocent of the crime, and the real culprit is later caught.-Adaptation:...
(1862) - The Foggy Night at Offord: A Christmas Gift for the Lancashire Fund (1863)
- The Shadow of Ashlydyat (1863)
- Verner’s Pride (1863)
- Lord Oakburn’s Daughters (1864)
- Oswald Cray (1864)
- Trevlyn Hold; or, Squire Trevlyn’s Heir (1864)
- William Allair; or, Running away to Sea (1864)
- Mildred Arkell: A Novel (1865)
- Elster’s Folly: A Novel (1866)
- St. Martin’s Eve: A Novel (1866)
- Lady Adelaide’s Oath (1867)
- Orville College: A Story (1867)
- The Ghost of the Hollow Field (1867)
- Anne Hereford: A Novel (1868)
- Castle Wafer; or, The Plain Gold Ring (1868)
- The Red Court Farm: A Novel (1868)
- Roland Yorke: A Novel (1869)
- Bessy Rane: A Novel (1870)
- George Canterbury’s Will (1870)
- Dene Hollow (1871)
- Within the Maze: A Novel (1872)
- The Master of Greylands (1873)
- Johnny Ludlow (1874)
- Bessy Wells (1875)
- Told in the Twilight: Containing “Parkwater” and nine shorter stories (1875)
- Adam Grainger: A Tale (1876)
- Edina (1876)
- Our Children (1876)
- Parkwater: With four other tales (1876)
- Pomeroy Abbey (1878)
- Lady Adelaide (1879)
- Johnny Ludlow, Second Series (1880)
- A Tale of Sin and Other Tales (1881)
- Court Netherleigh: A Novel (1881)
- About Ourselves (1883)
- Johnny Ludlow, Third Series (1885)
- Lady Grace and Other Stories (1887)
- The Story of Charles Strange (1888)
- The Unholy Wish and Other Stories (1890)
- Ashley and Other Stories (1897)
Translations
- Les Filles de Lord Oakburn: Roman traduit de l’anglais par L. Bochet (1876)
- La Gloire des Verner: Roman traduit de l’anglais par L. de L’Estrive (1878)
- Le Serment de Lady Adelaïde: Roman traduit de l’anglais par Léon Bochet (1878)