Lyall was educated at home, with her uncle in Caterham, Surrey and at private schools in Brighton. She resided for the rest of her life separately with each of her two married sisters in Lincoln, London and Eastbourne. The name Edna Lyall is apparently derived from transposing letters from Ada Ellen Bayly. Lyall's first novel, Won by Waiting, was published in 1879, but was not successful. In all, Lyall wrote 18 novels. Her second novel, Donovan (1882) reveals the author's Unitarian background in its treatment of religious tolerance and politics. It was followed by a sequel, We Two (1884), which was her first great success. In the Golden Days (1885), an historical novel set in the seventeenth century, brought her considerable income. Derrick Vaughan, Novelist (1889) uses material from Edna Lyall's own life as does The Burges Letters (1902) which draws on her country childhood. Other works of note include The Autobiography of a Slander (1887), The Autobiography of a Truth (1896), Wayfaring Men (1897), In Spite of All (1901) and The Hinderers (1902). |
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