Elizabeth Sewell

ES was well-known during the mid nineteenth century as a novelist, travel writer, historian, author of devotional and educational works, and children's writer. Her novels challenged the idea that romance leading to marriage was the sole purpose of Victorian women's lives, and realistically portrayed the active and meaningful lives of single women. In her educational works she argued for improvements to women's education. Although her novels were widely read during her lifetime, especially by young women, they are now mostly forgotten.