Annie Hall Cudlip facts for kids

Annie Hall Cudlip (born Annie Hall Thomas; October 25, 1838 – November 24, 1918) was a famous English writer. She was also known as Mrs. Pender Cudlip. Annie wrote many books, mostly romantic stories. She also worked as an editor for a magazine called Ours: A Holiday Quarterly. She often wrote for other magazines in Britain and the United States.

Annie Cudlip was married to a religious leader, Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip. She was one of the most active writers of her time. She wrote over 100 novels and short stories between 1862 and the early 1900s. Some of her most well-known books include Theo Leigh (1865), A Passion in Tatters (1872), He Cometh Not, She Said (1873), and Allerton Towers (1882).

About Annie Cudlip

Annie Hall Thomas was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England, on October 25, 1838. She was the only daughter of George Thomas. Her father was an officer in the British Royal Navy. He was in charge of the local Coastguard station. Her mother was the daughter of Captain Alexander Mackey, who was also in the Royal Navy.

Early Life and Education

Annie's family later moved to Morston in Norfolk. Her father worked there until he passed away. Annie was mostly taught at home. This is where she started to write. She wrote an article called "A Stroll in the Park" for a magazine called London Society.

Starting Her Writing Career

Annie published her first novel, The Cross of Honour, in 1863. She was 24 years old. Just three months later, she released two more novels: Sir Victor's Choice and Barry O'Byrne.

A publisher named William Tinsley published some of her books, like Denis Donne and Theo Leigh. Another publisher, Chapman & Hall, released many of her other novels. These included On Guard, Played Out, Walter Goring, and A Passion in Tatters. People often compared her writing to that of Florence Marryat, who was a friend from her childhood.

William Tinsley once said that Annie was a "light-hearted girl." He noted that she could write "bright, easy-reading fiction" very quickly. He was often amazed at how much she wrote, because she seemed to be out and about all the time. She was part of a fun group of friends who often went to parties and the theatre. Tinsley said she could write a long novel in just six weeks!

Marriage and Family

In 1866, Annie turned down a marriage proposal from W. S. Gilbert, a famous writer. The next year, on July 10, 1867, she married Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip. He was a clergyman and also wrote about religion. They had six children together. Annie and her husband lived in Devon, England, for most of their married life.

In 1873, Annie and her husband moved to Paddington, London, for eight years. While living there, Annie became very interested in animal rights. She wrote about how animals were sometimes treated badly in London. She had a favorite dog, a Stella setter, who got sick and had to be put down. She also had a large greyhound named Cavac, who had been her friend for ten years. Sadly, Cavac was one of many dogs that died during a sad event in London in 1876 where dogs were poisoned. Annie had even included Cavac as a character in her 1867 novel Called to Account.

Annie faced some tough times. Two of her older sons passed away in March 1876, and another son died in February 1879. Of her three children who survived, one daughter married Major William Price Drury. He was a Royal Marine who also wrote books about the sea.

Later Career and Life

Annie Cudlip was the editor of Ours: A Holiday Quarterly. She also wrote regularly for many other magazines. These included All the Year Round, Appleton's Journal, and Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. She wrote for magazines in both Britain and the United States between 1876 and 1884. She also wrote stories that appeared in parts (called serial novels) for The Ladies' Pictorial and other local newspapers.

In 1884, Annie and her husband moved back to Devon. Her husband, Pender Cudlip, became the Vicar of Sparkwell and served there for 25 years. Annie kept writing novels, even into the early 1900s. However, she started to have money problems a few years later. She asked for help from the Royal Literary Fund in 1907 and 1908. In 1908, she said that the most she was offered for her newest novel was only £15. Her husband passed away in 1911. Annie Cudlip died seven years later, on November 24, 1918.