author
Magdalene Horsfall
1884–1936
A little-known early 20th-century writer, she is remembered today for imaginative children's fiction and for retellings of historical and legendary subjects. Her surviving books suggest a taste for fairy tale wonder, adventure, and stories centered on remarkable girls.
1 Audiobook
The Fairy Latchkey
by Magdalene Horsfall
About the author
Magdalene Horsfall was a British author who lived from 1884 to 1936. Reliable catalog and public-domain sources confirm her as the author of works including The Fairy Latchkey and The Maid Marvellous, and her books continue to circulate through library, ebook, and audiobook archives.
Her writing appears to have centered on younger readers, blending fantasy, folklore, and historical storytelling. The Fairy Latchkey points to a gift for magical, imaginative fiction, while The Maid Marvellous shows an interest in bringing larger-than-life figures from history and legend to a general audience.
Biographical details about her life are scarce in the sources I could confirm, so much of her personal story remains hard to trace. What does come through clearly is the character of her work: accessible, story-driven writing from the early 1900s that still finds readers through classic literature collections and public-domain editions.