Evelyn Everett-Green facts for kids

Evelyn Ward Everett-Green (born November 17, 1856, in London – died April 23, 1932, in Funchal) was a very busy English writer. She wrote around 350 books!

She started by writing inspiring stories for children. Then, she moved on to exciting historical novels for older girls. Later in her career, she wrote romantic stories for adults. Evelyn used her own name for over 200 of her books. For others, she used different pen names like H. F. E., Cecil Adair, E. Ward, and Evelyn Dare.

Evelyn's Early Life and Education

Evelyn was born in London. Her mother, Mary Anne Everett Green, was a historian. Her father, George Pycock Green, was a painter. The family were Methodists, a type of Christian faith.

Evelyn was the second of three daughters and had one older brother. She was named Eveline when she was born but later changed it to Evelyn. Her family added "Everett" to their last name to honor a family friend, James Everett. From a very young age, Evelyn loved making up stories. She would tell them to her sisters. She even wrote a historical story about Lady Jane Grey while still in school.

Evelyn learned at home until she was 12. After that, she went to Gower Street Preparatory School. She also spent a year at Bedford College, London, on a special scholarship. During this time, she wrote her first novel, Tom's Tempest Victory. She kept writing while studying music at the London Academy of Music. She also worked as a nurse in a London hospital for two years.

In 1876, her brother passed away. This changed her plans to go to India with him. Instead, she focused on good deeds. She taught Sunday School and continued nursing, even in hospitals.

Evelyn's Writing Journey

In 1880, her first book, Tom Tempest's Victory, was published. She used the pen name H. F. E. It was hard for her to write at home, and the city winters weren't good for her health. In 1883, she moved out of London with her friend Catherine Mainwaring Sladen. They lived in Albury, Surrey, for many years.

While in Albury, Evelyn wrote many historical novels. She also wrote moral stories for the Religious Tract Society. One of her famous books was about Joan of Arc, called Called of Her Country (1903). It was later renamed A Heroine of France. In this book, Joan is shown as a brave "Angelic Maid" in white armor. Her adventures were about doing her duty.

Evelyn wrote a lot for girls. But she also wrote exciting adventure stories for boys, like A Gordon Highlander (1901). Many of her books shared the values she learned from her Methodist upbringing. These values were clearest in her books for younger children.

She soon started writing novels for slightly older girls. These are the books she is most famous for. They often followed a family as children grew up into adults. Her stories sometimes mentioned women having careers, which was fine. But the main female characters always ended up getting married.

Between 1890 and 1909, she wrote about 50 historical tales. After this, she moved to Madeira. There, she started writing romantic novels for adults. For these, she often used the pen name Cecil Adair. These stories were often about families or exciting historical adventures. Readers loved them because they were exciting but also proper. She sometimes worked with other writers like Louisa Bedford and Emma and Beatrice Marshall.

Evelyn's books were very popular in her time. She was one of the best-selling authors for her publisher, Stanley Paul. While her books earned her a good living, they are now mostly read to learn about what life was like in her time.

Evelyn's Later Life and Passing

In 1911, Evelyn was still living in Albury with Catherine. They were listed as "joint heads" of their home. But in that same year, Evelyn and Catherine moved abroad. They eventually settled in Quinta Pico de São João, in Madeira. During the First World War, they lived in England for a while. They remained financially independent and unmarried friends.

Evelyn would return to England every year. She visited her sister Gertrude and handled business with her publishers. She was an active member of the Anglican church community in Madeira. She was buried in the British Cemetery there. There is a special plaque inside Holy Trinity Church in Funchal to remember her. She left a good amount of money, and a scholar named A. S. F. Gow helped manage her will.

Selected Works by Evelyn Everett-Green

• The Doctor's Dozen (1880)
• Fast friends; or, David and Jonathan (1882) (as H.F.E.)
• Curthbert Conningsby (1884)
• Torwood's Trust (1884)
• Her Husband's Home; or The Durleys of Linley Castle (1885)
• Monica (1889)
• Mrs. Romaine's Household (1891)
• The Lord of Dynevor: A Tale of the Times of Edward the First (1892)
• In the Days of Chivalry: A Tale of the Times of the Black Prince (1893)
• The Church and the King, a tale of England in the days of Henry VIII (1893)
• Maud Melville's marriage: a story of the seventeenth century (1893)
• Sir Aylmer's Heir; a Story for the Young (1894)
• The Secret Chamber at Chad (1894)
• The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn: A Story of the Days of the Gunpowder Plot (1894)
• Shut in: a Tale of the wonderful Siege of Antwerp in the year 1585 (1895)
• Judith: The Money-lender's Daughter (1896)
• In Taunton town a story of the rebellion of James Duke of Monmouth in 1685 (1896)
• Olive Roscoe, or, The new sister (1896)
• Squib and His Friends (1897)
• Molly Melville: A tale for girls (1897)
• Tom Tufton's Travels (1898)
• A Clerk of Oxford, and His Adventures in the Baron's War (1898)
• French and English: A Story of the Struggle in America (1899)
• Shimmering Waters (1900) (as Cecil Adair)
• Barbara's Brothers (1900)
• The Heir of Hascombe hall; a tale of the days of the early Tudors (1900)
• Esther's Charge: a story for girls (1900)
• Eustace Marchmont: a Friend of the People (1900)
• Miss Uraca (1900)
• Our Winnie and The Little Match-Girl (1900)
• In the Wars of the Roses: A Story for the Young (1901)
• True Stories of Girl Heroines (1901)
• In the Days of Chivalry; a tale of the Times of the Black Prince (1901)
• In Fair Granada: a Tale of Moors and Christians (1902)
• Gabriel Garth, Chartist (1902)
• The Niece of Esther Lunne (1903)
• A hero of the Highlands: or, The romance of a rebellion, as related by one who looked on (1903)
• Ringed by Fire: a story of the Franco-Prussian War (1904)
• The Castle of the White Flag: a tale of the Franco-German War (1904)
• The Secret of Wold Hall (1905)
• Fallen Fortunes (1906)
• A Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of Arc (1906)
• Little Lady Val; a tale of the Days of Good Queen Bess (1906)
• For the Faith: A Story of the Young Pioneers of Reformation in Oxford
• The Qualities of Mercy (1911) (as Cecil Adair)
• Mr. Hatherley's Boys (before 1923)
• Queen's Manor School (1923)
• Francesca (1927) (as Cecil Adair)
• The Sign of the Red Cross (before 1911)