Stories jolly: stories new: stories strange & stories true : A series of new and original tales for boys and girls from six to fourteen years old

R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

1825–1894

Adventure, exploration, and life in the wild shaped the enduring stories of this Scottish writer for young readers. His firsthand experience in Canada inspired beloved classics such as The Coral Island and The Young Fur-Traders.

S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould

1834–1924

A Victorian clergyman with a restless curiosity, he wrote hymns, novels, folklore studies, travel books, and lives of the saints. He is still widely remembered for the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and for helping preserve traditional songs from Devon and Cornwall.

Fanny Barry

From environmental engineering to memoir and eco-themed fiction, this writer brings a practical mind and a resilient spirit to the page. Her books often draw on reinvention, healing, and a deep connection to life in Tulum, Mexico.

A little-known Victorian writer of children's stories, remembered today through a small handful of late-19th-century books. Her surviving works suggest a taste for moral tales and imaginative storytelling aimed at young readers.

Alice Corkran

d. 1916

A gifted Irish writer of children’s fiction, Alice Corkran brought imagination, warmth, and a strong sense of adventure to books such as Bessie Lang and Down the Snow Stairs. She also helped shape girls’ reading as an editor of influential Victorian magazines.

George Manville Fenn

1831–1909

Best known for lively adventure stories, this Victorian writer also worked as a teacher, journalist, and editor before turning his energy to fiction. His books often mix action, curiosity, and a strong sense of place, which helped make him a popular author for younger readers.

Agnes Giberne

1845–1939

A Victorian writer who brought both moral storytelling and the wonders of science to young readers, Agnes Giberne made astronomy feel vivid, friendly, and full of possibility. Her books helped generations of children explore the stars, the Earth, and the natural world.

A little-known Victorian contributor to children’s fiction, remembered today mainly for appearing in a multi-author anthology of stories for young readers. The surviving record is thin, which gives her work a faintly mysterious charm.

G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

1832–1902

Best known for fast-moving historical adventures, this prolific English writer helped generations of young readers imagine battles, journeys, and distant places. He also worked as a war correspondent, bringing a reporter’s eye for action into many of his stories.

Katharine S. (Katharine Sarah) Macquoid

1824–1917

A prolific Victorian novelist and travel writer, she published more than 65 books and brought European landscapes, old towns, and local customs vividly to life for English readers. Her work ranges from popular fiction to richly observed travel books created in close partnership with her artist husband.

Mrs. Molesworth

1839–1921

Remembered as one of the best-loved Victorian writers for children, this English author blended everyday family life with fantasy, fairy tales, and a gentle sense of wonder. Her stories helped shape children's fiction in the late 19th century and are still known for their warmth and charm.

Remembered today as a little-known contributor to Victorian children’s literature, this author appears in charming late-19th-century story collections made for young readers. Her surviving record is brief, but it points to a place in the lively world of family reading and anthology publishing.

Emma Wood

A New Zealand children's author with a soft spot for funny, warm-hearted stories, she writes picture books inspired by friendship, everyday moments, and a lifelong love of reading. Her debut drew international attention after it was famously gifted to Prince William's children.

Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary) Yonge

1823–1901

A hugely popular Victorian novelist, she wrote stories shaped by faith, family life, and a strong sense of duty. Her best-known books helped carry the ideas of the Oxford Movement to a wide readership.