Annie Hall Cudlip
Encyclopedia
Annie Hall Cudlip known by her pen name Mrs. Pender Cudlip, was a British writer, novelist and short story writer. She was the editor of Ours: A Holiday Quarterly and a regular contributor to All the Year Round
, Frank Leslie
's Popular Monthly, and other magazines in both Great Britain
and the United States
between 1876 and 1884.
The wife of theology
author Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip
, she was considered one of the most prolific writers of romantic fiction
during the Victorian era
and published well over 100 novels and short stories from 1862 until the turn of the century
. Among her best known works include Theo Leigh (1865), A Passion in Tatters (1872), He Cometh Not, She Said (1873) and Allerton Towers (1882).
, Suffolk
, on October 25, 1838. Her father, a well-known and respected gentleman officer from County Cork
, was a lieutenant
in the British Royal Navy and commanded the local Coastguard station
; he was also the nephew and protege of Admiral Sir Jerry Coghlan. Her mother was the daughter of Captain Alexander Mackey, a Royal Navy cadet of the house of Lord Reay
, of Reay Forest.
Her family then moved to Morston
in Norfolk
, where her father served until the year before his death in Greenwich Hospital
. Primarily educated at home, Cudlip took up writing around this time and successfully submitted an article, "A Stroll in the Park", for the first issue of London Society
. She published her first novel, The Cross of Honor, in 1863 at age 24. She followed this with her first 3-volume novel Sir Victor's Choice and Barry O'Byrne three months later. Following up on these successful novels, publisher William Tinsley
published Denis Donne and Theo Leigh while Chapman & Hall released a series of her 3-volume novels including On Guard, Played Out, Walter Goring, Called to Account, The Dower House, A Passion in Tatters, Blotted Out, A Narrow Escape and Mrs. Cardigan. Many of her earliest novels were considered highly controversial and dealt with subjects such as the sexuality of young girls and illegitimate pregnancy. Her writing was often compared to that of Florence Marryat
; the two were close childhood friends as their fathers were old colleagues and neighbours.
She was closely associated with William Tinsley throughout her literary career. Tinsley remarked in 1865, after her first two novels had been published by John Maxwell, that she was "a light-hearted girl, and a writer of bright, easy-reading fiction, of which she could write almost acres in a short time. But when she found time to write so much was often a puzzle to me, for she seemed always to be out and about. She was in a bright and merry set at the time, many of whom had 'at homes,' dinner parties, dances, and merry meetings of different kinds, including some theatre going." He further claimed that Cudlip could easily put out one of her 3-volume "triple-decker" novels in a mere six weeks.
After refusing an offer of marriage from W. S. Gilbert
in 1866, she married Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip
on July 10, 1867; they had six children. Rev. Cudlip was a High-Church clergyman and amateur theological author. The two lived in Devon
for most of their married life.
In 1873, she and her husband moved to Paddington, London, where they lived for eight years. She was involved in animal rights groups and wrote about animal cruelty in London during the period. Her favorite Stella-setter had contracted hydrophobia
and eventually had to be destroyed. A large Greyhound
, Cavac, had been her constant companion for ten years and was one of the many dogs killed in the infamous London dog poisonings in 1876; she had included him as a character in her 1867 novel Called to Account. Two of her elder sons died in March of that year, and another son in February 1879. Of her three surviving children, one of her daughters married Major William Price Drury
, a Royal Marine, who wrote some nautical novels at the end of the century.
Cudlip was the editor of Ours: A Holiday Quarterly and a regular contributor to All the Year Round
, Appleton's Journal, the Broadway, Frank Leslie
’s Popular Monthly and other magazines in both Great Britain and the United States between 1876 and 1884. She also wrote serial novels for The Ladies' Pictorial and a group of other provincial journals.
She and her husband returned to Devon in 1884, where Pender Cudlip served at the Sparkwell Vicarage
the next 25 years. She continued writing single-volume novels for such publishers as Chatto & Windus around the turn of the century
, however she began experiencing financial problems within a few years and applied to the Royal Literary Fund
in 1907 and 1908. In the latter year she claimed that the highest offer she had received for her latest novel was £15. Her husband died in 1911 and Annie Cudlip died seven years later on November 24, 1918.
All the Year Round
All the Year Round was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous publication Household Words, abandoned due to...
, Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie was an English-born American engraver, illustrator, and publisher of family periodicals.-English origins:...
's Popular Monthly, and other magazines in both Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
between 1876 and 1884.
The wife of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
author Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip
Pender Hodge Cudlip
Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip was an English Anglican High Church clergyman, theologian and writer. He was a well-known preacher in Cornwall and Devon during the mid-to late 19th century, spent several years in Paddington, London, and headed the Sparkwell Vicarage from 1884 until his death...
, she was considered one of the most prolific writers of romantic fiction
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and published well over 100 novels and short stories from 1862 until the turn of the century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
. Among her best known works include Theo Leigh (1865), A Passion in Tatters (1872), He Cometh Not, She Said (1873) and Allerton Towers (1882).
Biography
Annie Hall Cudlip was born Annie Hall Thomas, the only daughter of George Thomas, in AldeburghAldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the River Alde, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts where freshly caught fish are sold daily, and the Aldeburgh Yacht Club...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, on October 25, 1838. Her father, a well-known and respected gentleman officer from County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, was a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the British Royal Navy and commanded the local Coastguard station
Her Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
; he was also the nephew and protege of Admiral Sir Jerry Coghlan. Her mother was the daughter of Captain Alexander Mackey, a Royal Navy cadet of the house of Lord Reay
Lord Reay
Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Reay is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Mackay, whose lands in Strathnaver and northwest Sutherland were known as the Reay Country. The land was sold to the Earls of Sutherland in the 18th century...
, of Reay Forest.
Her family then moved to Morston
Morston
Morston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 86 in 42 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk....
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, where her father served until the year before his death in Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital can refer to:*Greenwich Hospital , USA*Greenwich Hospital , UK...
. Primarily educated at home, Cudlip took up writing around this time and successfully submitted an article, "A Stroll in the Park", for the first issue of London Society
London Society
London Society was a Victorian era illustrated monthly periodical, subtitled "an illustrated magazine of light and amusing literature for the hours of relaxation". It was published between 1862 and 1898 by W. Clowes and Sons, London. The magazine published miscellaneous articles, short fiction ,...
. She published her first novel, The Cross of Honor, in 1863 at age 24. She followed this with her first 3-volume novel Sir Victor's Choice and Barry O'Byrne three months later. Following up on these successful novels, publisher William Tinsley
William Tinsley
William Tinsley was a British publisher. The son of a gamekeeper, he had little formal education; but together with his brother Edward he founded the firm of Tinsley Brothers, which published many of the leading novelists of the time.-Life:Tinsley was born in the village of South Mimms, north of...
published Denis Donne and Theo Leigh while Chapman & Hall released a series of her 3-volume novels including On Guard, Played Out, Walter Goring, Called to Account, The Dower House, A Passion in Tatters, Blotted Out, A Narrow Escape and Mrs. Cardigan. Many of her earliest novels were considered highly controversial and dealt with subjects such as the sexuality of young girls and illegitimate pregnancy. Her writing was often compared to that of Florence Marryat
Florence Marryat
Florence Marryat was a British author and actress. The daughter of author Capt. Frederick Marryat and his wife Catherine, she was particularly known for her sensational novels and her involvement with several celebrated spiritual mediums of the late nineteenth century...
; the two were close childhood friends as their fathers were old colleagues and neighbours.
She was closely associated with William Tinsley throughout her literary career. Tinsley remarked in 1865, after her first two novels had been published by John Maxwell, that she was "a light-hearted girl, and a writer of bright, easy-reading fiction, of which she could write almost acres in a short time. But when she found time to write so much was often a puzzle to me, for she seemed always to be out and about. She was in a bright and merry set at the time, many of whom had 'at homes,' dinner parties, dances, and merry meetings of different kinds, including some theatre going." He further claimed that Cudlip could easily put out one of her 3-volume "triple-decker" novels in a mere six weeks.
After refusing an offer of marriage from W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
in 1866, she married Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip
Pender Hodge Cudlip
Rev. Pender Hodge Cudlip was an English Anglican High Church clergyman, theologian and writer. He was a well-known preacher in Cornwall and Devon during the mid-to late 19th century, spent several years in Paddington, London, and headed the Sparkwell Vicarage from 1884 until his death...
on July 10, 1867; they had six children. Rev. Cudlip was a High-Church clergyman and amateur theological author. The two lived in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
for most of their married life.
In 1873, she and her husband moved to Paddington, London, where they lived for eight years. She was involved in animal rights groups and wrote about animal cruelty in London during the period. Her favorite Stella-setter had contracted hydrophobia
Hydrophobia
Hydrophobia or hydrophobe may refer to:* Rabies, especially a set of symptoms of the later stages of an infection, in which the victim has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and cannot quench his or her thirst....
and eventually had to be destroyed. A large Greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
, Cavac, had been her constant companion for ten years and was one of the many dogs killed in the infamous London dog poisonings in 1876; she had included him as a character in her 1867 novel Called to Account. Two of her elder sons died in March of that year, and another son in February 1879. Of her three surviving children, one of her daughters married Major William Price Drury
William Price Drury
Lieutenant-Colonel William Price Drury CBE was a Royal Marine Light Infantry officer, novelist, playwright, and Mayor of Saltash from 1929 to 1931....
, a Royal Marine, who wrote some nautical novels at the end of the century.
Cudlip was the editor of Ours: A Holiday Quarterly and a regular contributor to All the Year Round
All the Year Round
All the Year Round was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous publication Household Words, abandoned due to...
, Appleton's Journal, the Broadway, Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie
Frank Leslie was an English-born American engraver, illustrator, and publisher of family periodicals.-English origins:...
’s Popular Monthly and other magazines in both Great Britain and the United States between 1876 and 1884. She also wrote serial novels for The Ladies' Pictorial and a group of other provincial journals.
She and her husband returned to Devon in 1884, where Pender Cudlip served at the Sparkwell Vicarage
Sparkwell
Sparkwell is a small Devon village in the South Hams local authority. It has a churchVicars of All Saints, Sparkwell1884-1911 Pender Hodge Cudlip1911-1947 Thomas Woodman1917-1924 Ernest Arthur Milne1924-1931 Edward Harold Smith...
the next 25 years. She continued writing single-volume novels for such publishers as Chatto & Windus around the turn of the century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
, however she began experiencing financial problems within a few years and applied to the Royal Literary Fund
Royal Literary Fund
The Royal Literary Fund is a benevolent fund set up to help published British writers in financial difficulties. It was founded by Reverend David Williams in 1790 and has received bequests and donations, including royal patronage, ever since...
in 1907 and 1908. In the latter year she claimed that the highest offer she had received for her latest novel was £15. Her husband died in 1911 and Annie Cudlip died seven years later on November 24, 1918.
External links
- Works by Annie Thomas at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books) - Works by Pender/Annie Cudlip at Google Books (scanned books)