Alice Meynell

a.k.a. Anna Christiana Gertrude (nee Thompson) Meynell

Author Code: EATM

A great deal of Meynell's youth was spent in Italy and she was primarily self-educated. In 1872, she converted to Roman Catholicism and this is reflected in much of her writing. In 1875, she published her first book of poems, Preludes, which was very popular and highly praised by many writers such as Tennyson and Patmore. In 1877, she married Wilfrid Meynell, editor of the Weekly Register and a huge fan of her poetry. She helped to edit the magazine and in 1883 they launched Merry England, a monthly magazine for which she wrote numerous essays. Meynell befriended the poet Francis Thompson and was instrumental in getting his work published. When the magazine ceased publication in 1895, Meynell continued to write and published many works until her death in 1922. Her poetry was so poular at the time that she was even mentioned as a possible poet laureate upon the death of Tennyson. Her other works include Rhythm of Life & Other Essays (1893), Colour of Life (1896), Children (1897), John Ruskin (1900), Cere's Runaway & Other Essays (1909), Childhood (1913), Hearts of Controversy (1917), Father of Women & Other Poems (1917) and Second Person Singular & Other Essays (1921).