List of 19th-century British children's literature authors facts for kids

The 19th century was a super important time for children's literature in Britain! Before this, books for kids were mostly about teaching them lessons or religion. But during the 1800s, authors started writing stories just for fun and adventure. This made reading much more exciting for young people.

These authors created amazing characters and worlds that are still loved today. They helped shape how we think about stories for kids, making them imaginative and entertaining. Many of their books are now considered classics!

Pioneers of Children's Stories

The 19th century saw many talented writers who decided to focus on younger readers. They wrote about everything from thrilling adventures to everyday life, and even magical lands. These authors often explored themes like courage, friendship, and growing up.

Early 19th-Century Authors

Some of the first authors in this period helped set the stage for children's literature. They started to move away from just moral lessons and introduced more engaging narratives.

• Eliza Fenwick (1767–1840) ^†
• Barbara Hofland (1770–1844)
• George Walker (1772–1847) ^†
• Mary Martha Sherwood (1775–1851)
• Alicia Catherine Mant (1788–1869)
• Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) ^†
• Charlotte Anley (1796–1893) ^†
• Catherine Sinclair (1800–1864)
• Anna Maria Hall (1800–1881)
• Catherine Crowe (1803–1876) ^†

Mid-19th-Century Storytellers

As the century progressed, more authors joined the movement, bringing new ideas and styles. This era saw the rise of adventure stories and early fantasy.

• W. H. G. Kingston (1814–1880)
• Elizabeth Missing Sewell (1815–1906)
• Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) ^†
• Anna Sewell (1820–1878) (famous for Black Beauty)
• Jean Ingelow (1820–1897) ^†
• Charlotte Maria Tucker (1821–1893)
• Thomas Hughes (1822–1896) (wrote Tom Brown's School Days)
• Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823–1901) ^†
• William Brighty Rands (1823–1882) ^†
• George MacDonald (1824–1905) ^† (known for fantasy like The Princess and the Goblin)
• Anna Harriet Drury (1824–1912) ^†
• Annie Keary (1825–1879)
• Robert Michael Ballantyne (1825–1894) (wrote adventure stories like The Coral Island)
• Dinah Craik (1826–1887)

Late 19th-Century Innovators

Towards the end of the century, children's literature became even more diverse. This period gave us some of the most iconic and imaginative stories.

• Frederic W. Farrar (1831–1909)
• Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) ^† (the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
• G. A. Henty (1832–1902) ^† (known for historical adventure novels)
• Hesba Stretton (1832–1911)
• Emilia Marryat (1835–1875)
• Frances Mary Peard (1835–1923) ^†
• Frank Atha Westbury (1838–1901) ^†
• Mary Louisa Molesworth (1839–1921)
• Sarah Doudney (1841–1926) ^†
• Juliana Horatia Ewing (1842–1885)
• Christabel Rose Coleridge (1843–1921)
• Andrew Lang (1844–1912) ^† (collected many fairy tales)
• Evelyn Whitaker (1844–1929)
• Georgina Castle Smith (1845–1933)
• Agnes Giberne (1845–1939)
• Blanche Atkinson (1847–1911) ^†
• Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929) ^†
• Richard Jefferies (1848–1887)
• Amy Catherine Walton (1849–1939)
• Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) ^† (wrote Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
• Talbot Baines Reed (1852–1893)
• L. T. Meade (1854–1914)
• Evelyn Everett-Green (1856–1932)
• E. Nesbit (1858–1924) (known for The Railway Children and other fantasy stories)
• E. E. Cowper (1859–1933) ^†
• Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler (1860–1929) ^†
• Herbert Hayens (1861–1944)
• G. E. Farrow (1862–1919)
• Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) ^† (author of The Jungle Book)
• Mrs Henry de la Pasture (1866–1945) ^†

Why These Authors Matter

The authors from the 19th century changed how stories were written for kids. They showed that children's books could be more than just lessons. They could be exciting, funny, and full of imagination. Their work laid the foundation for all the amazing children's books we enjoy today. Many of their stories are still read and loved by young people around the world!