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At the Circulating Library

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

Author: Emma Leslie

Author: Emma Leslie (1837–1909)

Alternate Name(s): (pseudonym); Emma Boultwood (legal name); Dixon (married name)

Biography: Emma Boultwood was born in 1837 in Greenwich, the daughter of bootmaker Thomas Boultwood. Her early life cannot be traced, but as a young woman she worked as a governess. In the 1860s, she began a prolific career as a writer of fiction, mainly juvenile and historical titles for the religious publishers R. T. S. and the Sunday School Union. Her younger sister Harriett Boultwood also wrote fiction. She married, in 1873, the clerk Thomas Francis Dixon and the couple had two sons. A lifelong resident of Lewisham, she continued writing into the twentieth century, penning over 100 titles in all. Though she was prolific, she still found the need to successfully apply to the Royal Literary Fund several times. Inexplicably, she died in Pembroke, Wales in 1909 where she is buried.

Author Tags:

References: British Census (1851, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901); RLF (case number 1710)

Fiction Titles:

  1. Trial and Trust: or, Ellen Morden's Experience of Life.  1 vol.  London: William Macintosh, 1864.
  2. Ellerslie House: A Book for Boys.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1867.
  3. The Heir of Hazlewood: or, "All Things Work Together for Good to Them that Love God".  1 vol.  London: Jarrold and Son, 1868.
  4. Teddy's Dream: or, A Little Sweep's Mission.  1 vol.  London: James Nisbet, 1868.
  5. Harry Lawley and his Maiden Aunts.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1869.
  6. The Gold Bracelet.  1 vol.  London: William Macintosh, 1869.
  7. Milly's Errand: or, Saved to Save.  1 vol.  London: E. Marlborough, 1870.
  8. Daybreak in Italy.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1870.
  9. Soldier Fritz, and the Enemies he Fought: A Story of the Reformation.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1871.
  10. The Orphan and the Foundling: or, Alone in the World.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1872.
  11. Constancia's Household: A Story of the Spanish Reformation.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1872.
  12. Percy Raydon: or, Self-Conquest.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1872.
  13. Maggie's Message.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1872.
  14. Elsie's Dowry: A Tale of the Franco-German War.  1 vol.  London: E. Marlborough, 1872.
  15. Fanny the Flower Girl, and Esther's Trial.  1 vol.  : [None], 1872.
  16. Faithful, but not Famous: A Historical Tale.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1872.
  17. Charley Hope's Testament.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1872.
  18. Myra's Pink Dress.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1873.
  19. Helen's Victory.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1873.
  20. Peter the Apprentice: A Historical Tale of the Reformation in England.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1873.
  21. Eliza Metcalf's Basket: or, Policy not Principle.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1873.
  22. Fanny's Bible Text.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1873.
  23. The Captives.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1873.
  24. Hayslope Grange: A Tale of the Civil War.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1873.
  25. Tom Perry's Venture.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  26. The Little Gipsy.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  27. Edward's Conquest and Other Tales.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  28. The Ferryman's Family: or, Daisy Hope's Fortune.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  29. Glaucia, the Greek Slave.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1874.
  30. Sunbeam Susette: A Story of the Siege of Paris.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  31. Hilda: or, The Golden Age.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1874.
  32. Esther's Regret.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
  33. Out of the Mouth of the Lion: or, The Church in the Catacombs.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1875.
  34. Herbert's Debt.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1875.
  35. Squire Lynne's Will.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1875.
  36. Steps Downward: or, Sarah Seddon's Fall and Recovery.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1875.
  37. From Bondage to Freedom: A Tale of the Rise of Mohammedanism.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1877.
  38. The Hermit of Livry: A Tale of the Days of Calvin.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1877.
  39. Little Faults and their Cure.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1877.
  40. George's Temptation.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1878.
  41. Arthur Egerton's Ordeal: or, God's Ways not Our Ways.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1878.
  42. The Chained Book.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1879.
  43. Crissy's Little Mother.  1 vol.  London: E. Marlborough, 1879.
  44. Esther's Sixpence and Other Tales.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1879.
  45. Leofwine the Monk: or, The Curse of the Ericsons. A Tale of a Saxon Family.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1879.
  46. Before the Dawn: A Tale of Wycliffe and Bohemia.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1880.
  47. Tom Morris's Error: And Other Stories.  1 vol.  London: Cassell, 1880.
  48. Caught in the Toils: A Story of a Convent School.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1880.
  49. Harold's Revenge: A Story of Schoolboy Life.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1880.
  50. Cecily: A Tale of the English Reformation.  1 vol.  London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1881.
  51. The Water Waifs: A Story of Canal Barge Life.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1882.
  52. Only a Little Fault.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1882.
  53. Tom, the Boater: A Tale of English Canal Life.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1882.
  54. Charley's Log: A Story of Schoolboy Life.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1882.
  55. A Slip at Starting: or, Johnny's First Place.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1883.
  56. Dearer than Life: A Tale of the Times of Wycliffe.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1884.
  57. The Gipsy Queen.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1884.
  58. Marion and Augusta: or, Love and Selfishness.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1884.
  59. Margaret's Journal: or, Steps Upward.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1884.
  60. Saxby: A Tale of Old and New England.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1884.
  61. At the Sign of the Blue Boar: A Story of the Reign of Charles II.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1884.
  62. Tom Watkins' Mistake.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1885.
  63. Gytha's Message: A Tale of Saxon England.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1885.
  64. George's Temptation.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1885.
  65. A Sailor's Lass.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1886.
  66. Hidden Seed: or, A Year in a Girl's Life.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1886.
  67. The Martyr's Victory: A Tale of Danish England.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1886.
  68. Gretchen's Holiday.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1887.
  69. Kate's Ordeal.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1887.
  70. That Vulgar Girl.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1887.
  71. Through Stress and Strain: A Story of the Huguenot Persecution.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1887.
  72. Shucks: A Story for Boys.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1888.
  73. Pretty Miss Hathaway.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1888.
  74. By Little and Little: A Tale of the Spanish Armada.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1888.
  75. How the Strike Began: A Story for Girls.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1888.
  76. Breaking the Fetters: or, The Last of the Galley-Slaves.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1888.
  77. For France and Freedom: A Tale of the French Revolution.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1889.
  78. Audrey's Jewels: A Tale of the English Revolution.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1889.
  79. The Cousins.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1889.
  80. Aunt Selina's Legacy: A Story for Girls.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1889.
  81. Saved by Love: A Story of London Streets.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1889.
  82. A Gypsy Against her Will.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1889.
  83. Bolingbroke's Folly: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1890.
  84. Bertie Danby's Training.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1890.
  85. The Story of a Christmas Sixpence.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1890.
  86. Gerald's Dilemma.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1890.
  87. A Dangerous Friend: or, Tom's Three Months in London.  1 vol.  London: George Cauldwell, 1890.
  88. Arthur's Temptation: or, A Bad Beginning.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1890.
  89. Letty Raymond's Training.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1890.
  90. For Merrie England: A Tale of the Weavers of Norfolk.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1891.
  91. The Seed she Sowed: A Tale of the Great Dock Strike.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1891.
  92. Lady Marjorie: A Story of Methodist Work a Hundred Years Ago.  1 vol.  London: Charles H. Kelly, 1892.
  93. Eric, a Waif: A Story of Last Century.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1892.
  94. Brave Bessie Westland: A Story of Quaker Persecution.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1893.
  95. Sowing Beside all Waters: A Tale of the Early Church.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1895.
  96. Our Little Lady.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1895.
  97. In the Gipsies' Van: or, Caught in a Trap. A Story for Boys.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1896.
  98. Lizzie's Experiment: A Story of London Life.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1896.
  99. Through Storm to Calm: A Tale of the Last Century.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1897.
  100. Bob and his Rabbits: or, A False Start in Life.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1897.
  101. Our Little Nan: A Story.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1897.
  102. Arthur Ranyard's Training.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1898.
  103. Elsie's Scholarship, and Why She Surrendered it.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1898.
  104. Lina's Fortune.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo, 1900.
  105. That Scholarship Boy.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1900.
  106. At the Sign of the Golden Fleece: A Story of Reformation Days.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1900.
  107. Leila's Quest, and What Came of it.  1 vol.  London: R. T. S., 1900.
  108. Arthur's Inheritance: or, How he Conquered.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1901.