Lucy Bethia Walford facts for kids
Lucy Bethia Walford (born April 17, 1845 – died May 11, 1915) was a talented writer and artist from Scotland. She wrote 45 books, mostly fun and light-hearted stories about family life. Lucy cared a lot about making her writing very accurate.
About Lucy Walford's Life
Lucy Bethia Colquhoun was born on April 17, 1845. She grew up in Portobello, a seaside town near Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the seventh child in her family. Her mother, Frances Sarah Fuller Maitland, was a poet. Her father, John Colquhoun, wrote books about sports.
Lucy came from a family of writers. Her grandmother, Janet Colquhoun, wrote religious books. Her aunt, Catherine Sinclair, wrote many novels, including books for children.
Lucy was taught at home by teachers from Germany. She enjoyed reading books by authors like Charlotte Mary Yonge and Jane Austen. In 1855, her family moved to Edinburgh. There, she met the artist Noël Paton, who encouraged her to paint.
Lucy showed her paintings at the annual exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy. This happened in 1868 and for several years after. Her first short story was published in Sunday Magazine in May 1869.
On June 23, 1869, Lucy married Alfred Saunders Walford. He was a judge from Ilford, Essex. They moved to London and had five daughters and two sons. Lucy made sure her children were always with her and never put aside for her work. She passed away on May 11, 1915, at her home in Pimlico, London.
Lucy Walford's Books
When Lucy Walford wrote, she always tried to be very accurate. She would ask her brothers questions about military life to make sure her stories were correct. Her father was an expert on sports, so he helped her with those details.
Her first novel was called Mr. Smith: a Part of his Life (1874). The main character was based on a real man named Smith. This book was liked by Queen Victoria herself! Because of this, Lucy was invited to meet the Queen.
By the time she was 65, Lucy Walford had written 45 full-length novels. Some of her well-known books include Pauline (1877), The Baby's Grandmother (1884), and Stiff Necked Generation (1889). She also wrote for magazines in London. Her last novel, David and Jonathan on the Riviera, came out in 1914.
