author
Mrs. W. K. Clifford
1846–1929
An English novelist, playwright, and journalist remembered for vivid storytelling and an eerie gift for the uncanny, she wrote across genres and for readers of many ages. She is still especially known for the unsettling tale "The New Mother," which helped keep her name alive long after the Victorian era.
4 Audiobooks
Very Short Stories and Verses For Children
by Mrs. W. K. Clifford
Margaret Vincent: A Novel
by Mrs. W. K. Clifford
Aunt Anne, Vol. 1 (of 2)
by Mrs. W. K. Clifford
Aunt Anne, Vol. 2 (of 2)
by Mrs. W. K. Clifford
About the author
Born Lucy Lane in London on August 2, 1846, she became widely known as Mrs. W. K. Clifford after marrying the mathematician and philosopher William Kingdon Clifford in 1875. After his early death in 1879, she supported herself and her family through writing, building a long and varied career.
She wrote novels, plays, journalism, and short fiction, and her work reached both adult and younger readers. Among her best-known pieces today is The New Mother, first published in 1882 in The Anyhow Stories, Moral and Otherwise, a haunting story that has remained a favorite with readers interested in classic strange fiction.
Her career stretched well into the early 20th century, and she remained a respected literary figure for decades. She died on April 21, 1929, leaving behind a body of work that blends sharp observation, emotional warmth, and, at times, a quietly chilling imagination.