author

Sophie Cole

1862–1947

A prolific British writer best remembered for early romantic fiction, she also wrote affectionate books about London and its history. Her career is closely tied to the beginnings of Mills & Boon, whose first published book was her novel Arrows from the Dark.

1 Audiobook

The Lure of Old London

The Lure of Old London

by Sophie Cole

About the author

Born in 1862 and dying in 1947, Sophie Cole was a British novelist. Sources available here describe her as a prolific writer of romantic fiction, and library and archive records confirm her long association with Mills & Boon.

A note from the University of Reading says that, after a long illness in adolescence, she wrote a romance novel to pass the time. That book, Arrows from the Dark (1909), became the first title published by Mills & Boon, and she continued writing for the firm for many years.

Cole also wrote books beyond straight romance, including titles such as The Lure of Old London, which shows her interest in places, atmosphere, and the character of the city. The surviving references suggest an author who helped shape an important corner of popular fiction while also leaving behind a fond literary portrait of London.