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At the Circulating Library

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

A Database of Victorian Fiction, 1837–1901

Author: Edith Seeley

Author: Edith Seeley (1843–1917)

Alternate Name(s): Edis Searle (pseudonym)

Biography: Edith Seeley was born in 1843 in London, the fourth daughter of publisher Robert Benton Seeley and his wife Mary Ann. She grew up in a cultured household and became an educator and writer. Several of her siblings were also writers: Leonard Benton Seeley, Sir John Robert Seeley, Mary Seeley, Elizabeth Phebe Seeley, and Emma Louisa Seeley. After attending her elder sisters' school in Tonbridge, she began writing fiction anonymously eventually adopting the pseudonym "Edis Searle." All of her books were published by her family's publishing company which may explain her use of a pen name. For twenty years, she conducted a boarding school in Windermere with her sister Anne. By the turn of the century she moved back south to Surrey. She never married and died on 30 March 1917 in Parkstone. Note: the identification of this author is based on attributions of her periodical work.

Author Tags:

References: Bournemouth Guardian (7 April 1917); British Census (1851, 1861, 1881, 1891, 1901); DVPP; Probate

Fiction Titles:

  1. True Stories for Little People: Grave and Gay.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1865.
  2. Great Things Done by Little People.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1865.
  3. Aunt Annie's Stories: or, The Birthdays at Gordon Manor.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1867.
  4. Brother Bertie and his Friends in the Fields and Flower-Beds.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1868.
  5. Little Friends in the Village: A Story for Children.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1868.
  6. Under the Lime-Trees: or, Grandmamma's Stories at Hurst Farm.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1869.
  7. Captain Wolf and Other Sketches of Animal Biography.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1870.
  8. Hetty's Resolve: A Story of School Life.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1871.
  9. Friends and Neighbours: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1872.
  10. A Tale of a Nest.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1872.
  11. Hymn Stories.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1873.
  12. Maggie's Mistake: A Schoolgirl's Story.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1874.
  13. Easydale: A Story.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1874.
  14. Waiting for a Crown: or, The Early Years of King David.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1874.
  15. A Boy's Kingdom: or, Four Years in a Cave.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1875.
  16. Mrs. Mouser: or, Tales of a Grandmother.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1875.
  17. Stories from the South Seas.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1876.
  18. Only a Dog.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1877.
  19. Paulina's Ambition: A Story.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1878.
  20. On the Rock and Other Short Allegories.  1 vol.  London: Seeley, 1883.