Rhoda Broughton
Rhoda Broughton was a notable Welsh author born in 1840 near Denbigh, Wales, into an upper-class family. Raised in the Elizabethan mansion Broughton Hall, she received a home education from her parson father, which fostered her early interest in literature. Broughton began writing secretly and gained support from her uncle, the well-known author Sheridan Le Fanu, which helped her publish her first work anonymously. Her early novels, released in the late 1860s, quickly achieved critical acclaim and commercial success. Broughton's writings often centered on romantic themes, with a focus on women's experiences that challenged societal norms of her time. Over her career, she published a total of twenty-five novels and numerous short stories, becoming a prominent figure in the literary world despite addressing controversial subjects. Broughton's legacy continues to be recognized for her contributions to the genre of romance literature and her role in elevating women's narratives in the 19th century.
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Rhoda Broughton
- Born: November 29, 1840
- Birthplace: Denbigh, Wales
- Died: June 5, 1920
- Place of death: Headington Hill, near Oxford, England
Biography
The daughter of a parson, Rhoda Broughton was born near Denbigh, Wales, in 1840. Her upper-class family occupied an Elizabethan mansion called Broughton Hall, where her father home-schooled her. The house would serve as an important inspiration for Broughton’s later works. After developing an interest in literature, Broughton wrote in secret and published her work anonymously with the aid of her uncle Sheridan Le Fanu, a best-selling author of the time. Broughton’s first novel appeared as a serial in the Dublin University Magazine, which Le Fanu owned. When her father died in 1863, Broughton left the family home in Staffordshire to live with her two sisters. They spent some time in London, where Broughton was introduced to various literary figures of the day, such as the American novelist Henry James. In 1878, Broughton and one of her sisters settled in Oxford, but she eventually moved to Headlington Hill, where she spent the remainder of her life. Broughton’s first two novels were released in book form in 1867. The books, Not Too Wisely but Too Well and Cometh up as a Flower, immediately became critically acclaimed bestsellers. Most of her books were romances that presented women doing the opposite of what was expected of them at the time. Even though she wrote about controversial topics, she stayed at the top of the selling lists throughout most of her career. She eventually authored twenty-five novels and published numerous short stories.
