Ellen Buckingham Mathews facts for kids
Helen Mathers (born Ellen Buckingham Mathews, 1849–1920) was a very popular English writer. She wrote many novels in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After she married Dr. Henry Albert Reeves in 1877, she was sometimes known as Mrs. Reeves. But most people knew her by her famous pen name, Helen Mathers. She was born in Misterton, a town in Somerset, England.
Her first book, "Comin' thro' the Rye," was published in 1875. This story was partly based on people she knew and her own early romantic adventures. She also said that another writer, Rhoda Broughton, helped inspire her. Helen Mathers continued to write new books throughout her life until she died.
Her Early Life and Education
Helen Mathers went to a special school called a boarding school. This school was in Chantry, near Frome in Somerset. In her first novel, "Comin' thro' the Rye," she wrote about some of her experiences at this school.
The Real-Life Inspirations
In her book, a character named "Mr. Russell" was based on a real person. This person was the Rev. Mr. Fussell, who owned the land and started the school. Helen Mathers called the village "Charteris" in her novel. Her first book was very successful! Between 1875 and 1895, it sold more than 35,000 copies.
Clearing Up Book Confusion
Sometimes, people get confused about books written by Helen Mathers. This is because of similar book titles. Some sources mistakenly say that books by a Scottish writer named Anne S. Swan were written by Mathers.
Understanding the Titles
Helen Mathers published a short novel called "Land o' the Leal, by the Author of Comin' Thro' the Rye" in 1878. Later, Anne S. Swan published a book titled "The Land o' the Leal" in 1896. Swan used a male pen name, David Lyall, for her book. Because these two different books have very similar titles, some people wrongly thought that David Lyall was Helen Mathers's pen name. But it was not!
