Sarah Doudney
Encyclopedia
Sarah Doudney was an English novelist and poet, best known as a children's writer and hymnwriter.
Doudney's father ran a candle and soap manufacturing business; one of her uncles was the evangelical clergyman David Alfred Doudney, editor of The Gospel Magazine
and Old Jonathan. Doudney was educated at a school for French girls, and started to write poetry and prose as a child. 'The Lesson of the Water-Mill', written when she was fifteen and published in the Anglican
Churchman's Family Magazine (1864), became a well known song in Britain and the United States. In the 1881 census Doudney described herself as a "Writer for Monthly Journals". She contributed poetry and fiction to periodicals including Dickens
's All the Year Round
, the Churchman's Shilling Magazine, the Religious Tract Society
's Girl's Own Paper
, the Sunday Magazine, Good Words and the Quiver
Doudney continued to live with her parents near Catherington
until she was thirty. She published her first novel, Under Grey Walls, in 1871; by 1891, when she was describing herself in the census as a novelist, she had written around 35 novels,, aimed in most cases at girls, although she also wrote some adult novels.
Doudney's hymns include The Christian's Good Night, set by Ira D. Sankey
in 1884 and sung at Charles Spurgeon
's funeral.
Doudney's father ran a candle and soap manufacturing business; one of her uncles was the evangelical clergyman David Alfred Doudney, editor of The Gospel Magazine
The Gospel Magazine
The Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist, evangelical magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans. It is currently published bi-monthly....
and Old Jonathan. Doudney was educated at a school for French girls, and started to write poetry and prose as a child. 'The Lesson of the Water-Mill', written when she was fifteen and published in the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Churchman's Family Magazine (1864), became a well known song in Britain and the United States. In the 1881 census Doudney described herself as a "Writer for Monthly Journals". She contributed poetry and fiction to periodicals including Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's All the Year Round
All the Year Round
All the Year Round was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous publication Household Words, abandoned due to...
, the Churchman's Shilling Magazine, the Religious Tract Society
Religious Tract Society
The Religious Tract Society, founded 1799, 56 Paternoster Row and 65 St. Paul's Chuchyard, was the original name of a major British publisher of Christian literature intended initially for evangelism, and including literature aimed at children, women, and the poor.The RTS is also notable for being...
's Girl's Own Paper
Girl's Own Paper
Girl's Own Paper was a British story paper catering for girls and young women, published from 1880 until 1956.- Publishing history :The first weekly number of the Girl's Own Paper appeared on January 3, 1880. As with its male counterpart the Boy's Own Paper, the magazine was published by the...
, the Sunday Magazine, Good Words and the Quiver
Doudney continued to live with her parents near Catherington
Catherington
Catherington is a village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1 mile northwest of Horndean, just west of the A3 road.The nearest railway station in 3.3 miles southeast of the village, at Rowlands Castle....
until she was thirty. She published her first novel, Under Grey Walls, in 1871; by 1891, when she was describing herself in the census as a novelist, she had written around 35 novels,, aimed in most cases at girls, although she also wrote some adult novels.
Doudney's hymns include The Christian's Good Night, set by Ira D. Sankey
Ira D. Sankey
Ira D. Sankey , known as The Sweet Singer of Methodism, was an American gospel singer and composer, associated with evangelist Dwight L...
in 1884 and sung at Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
's funeral.
Works
- Psalms for Life, 1871. A collection of 60 hymns.
- Under Grey Walls, 1871
- 'Where Swallows Build', Girl's Own PaperGirl's Own PaperGirl's Own Paper was a British story paper catering for girls and young women, published from 1880 until 1956.- Publishing history :The first weekly number of the Girl's Own Paper appeared on January 3, 1880. As with its male counterpart the Boy's Own Paper, the magazine was published by the...
, XX, 1898 - Thy Heart's Desire, 1888
- Katherine's Keys, 1896
- The Vanished Hand, 1896
External links
- Works by Sarah Doudney
- Biography at the Cyber Hymnal