C. J. Hamilton (author) facts for kids

Catherine Jane Hamilton (1841–1935) was a talented author and journalist. She also used a special writing name, called a pen name, which was Retlaw Spring. She wrote many books and stories, especially for young people.

About Catherine's Early Life

Catherine Jane Hamilton was born in 1841 in Somerset, England. Her father, Richard Hamilton, was a vicar, which is a type of church leader. Catherine was the second of his daughters.

When she was a child, Catherine became very sick with a fever. Because of this, her family moved to a new, better house when she was eleven years old.

Catherine and her sister were taught at home by special teachers called governesses. Her father encouraged them to learn French, Latin, and Greek. Catherine also helped her father, especially as he began to lose his hearing and sight.

After her father passed away in 1859, her family faced difficulties. They moved to Ballickmoyler in Ireland, where her mother's family lived. Catherine lived in Ireland for many years.

Catherine's Writing Career

Catherine Hamilton wrote more than twenty-five books. These included plays, poems, and stories. At first, she used her pen name, Retlaw Spring. But after 1880, she started signing her work as C. J. Hamilton.

She wrote many religious stories for children. She also wrote shorter tales for illustrated magazines that kids enjoyed. Catherine's stories appeared in many popular magazines for adults too. Some of these were Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine and Young Englishwoman.

Catherine also wrote a series of articles about famous women writers, actors, and thinkers. These articles were later published as books. She worked for newspapers like the Weekly Irish Times starting in 1906. Later, she also wrote for the Pall Mall Gazette from 1913.

Catherine was a member of the Women Writers' Club. She also belonged to the Institute of Journalists, which is a group for professional journalists. Around 1906, Catherine moved back to London. She lived there for about ten years before moving to Devon and then Bury St Edmunds. She passed away on February 28, 1935, in Freckenham.

Selected Books by Catherine Jane Hamilton

• Notable Irishwomen, (1904)
• Women writers:their works and ways, (1892)
• Famous love matches
• Marriage Bonds, (1878)
• Hedged with Thorns: or, Working, Waiting and Winning. London: Ward, Lock, 1875
• Marriage Bonds: or, Christian Hazell's Married Life. London: Ward, Lock, 1879
• The Flynns of Flynnville. London: Ward, Lock, 1880
• Mr. Bartram's Daughter: An Every-Day Story. Derby: Bemrose and Sons, 1882
• True to the Core: A Romance of '98. 2 vol. London: F. V. White, 1883
• Rivals at School: or, A Lesson for Life. London: Sunday School Union, 1888
• Dr. Belton's Daughters. London: Ward, Lock, 1890
• The Battle of the Waves: or, The Herring Boat. London: R.T.S., 1890
• The Merry-go-Round. London: R.T.S., 1894
• From Hand to Hand: or, The Adventures of a Jubilee Sixpence. London: Partridge, 1895
• The Strange Adventures of Willie Norman. London: R.T.S., 1898
• A Flash of Youth. London: Sands, 1900
• Frank and Flo on their Travels. London: R.T.S., 1901
• The Macsorley Talisman, The Graphic Christmas 1876
• Two drawing room plays, Defeated: A Tale [Beeton's Christmas Annual] by Hannah Lynch (London: London : Ward, Lock & Co. 1885])