Caroline Elizabeth Norton, after having given in her novel "The Undying One" a version of the legend of the Wandering Jew, became in her book "A voice from the Factories" a most eloquent priestess of reforms. She condemned especially child labor, the darkest blot on the social conditions of England.
In the middle of the 19th Century Mary A. Evans became famous under her nom de plume "George Eliot." Having translated in 1844 David Strauss' brilliant work "Das Leben Jesu," and Spinoza's "Ethics," she published in 1858 her novel "Adam Bede," which placed her at once in the front rank of modern authors. Her later novels "The Mill on the Floss," "Silas Marner," "Romola" and "Felix Holt" proved so many contributions to her fame.
In recent times the works of Mary Edgeworth, Charlotte R. Lenox, Anne M. Fielding Hall, Mary Braddon, Elizabeth Sheppard, Louise de la Ramée (Ouida), Matilde Blind, Anna Seward and Charlotte M. Younge have won much appreciation.
Of the woman-authors born in Scotland, Margaret Oliphant wrote "Chronicles of Carlingford" and the charming novels "Merkland"; "The Quiet Heart"; "Zaidee," all of which are exquisite delineations of Scottish life and character. Another Scottish woman-author deserving of mention is Mary Ferrier, whose novels "Marriage," "The Inheritance," and "Destiny" breathe much originality and humor.
Of the Irish novelists Julia Kavanagh and Margaret Hamilton Hungerford must be mentioned, the former for her volumes "French Women of Letters"; and "English Women of Letters," as well as for her novels "Adele"; "The Pearl Fountain"; "Sibyl's Second Love"; and "Daisy Burns." Marg. Hungerford's novel "Molly Brown" has been much admired.
Mary Augusta Ward, born in Tasmania, became favorably known through her principal novel "Robert Elsmere," which delineates effectively the modern spiritual unrest and attempts to proclaim an ideal religion.
Another noteworthy author of Tasmania is Louisa Anne Meredith.
England has of course also a long roll of able poetesses, among them Sarah Flower Adams, who wrote the beautiful hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee." Alison Cockburn, Anne Barnard and Caroline Oliphant are the authors of many fine Scotch songs and ballads, among them the famous poems "Flowers of the Forest" and "Auld Robin Gray."
In recognition of the grace and delicacy of her lyrics Elizabeth Barrett Browning has been called "the most distinguished poet of her sex that England ever produced, but at the same time "the most unreadable." Her fame rests
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