At the Circulating Library

Author: Esmé Stuart

Author: Esmé Stuart (1851–1934)

Alternate Name(s): (pseudonym); Amelie Claire Leroy (legal name)

Biography: Amélie Claire Leroy was born in 1851 or 1852 in Paris, France. Her family and early life cannot be traced, though one source relates that Leroy was a childhood friend of Charlotte Yonge. By 1871, she worked as a governess at a girls' school in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. A few years later, she published her first novel Good Old Days: or, Christmas under Queen Elizabeth (1876) under the pseudonym "Esmé Stuart." She would go on to write dozens more. By 1891, she was living in Winchester with Anna Rachel Bramston, daughter of the late Dean of Winchester, sister of author Mary Eliza Bramston, and founder of the Winchester High School for Girls (now called St. Swithun's School). Leroy and Bramston would continue living together in Winchester, jointly running the school and adopting a daughter Juliette Charlotte Leroy (b. 1891). Bramston died in 1931. One of Leroy's obituaries says before her death she "had been a invalid for some years. It is not too much to say that she was a part of Winchester itself, known and loved by a very wide circle. A familiar figure on her electric tricycle, she had a racy, stimulating personality, and a depth of sympathy and insight which made her a much-sought companion." She died on 12 March 1934 in Winchester.

Author Tags:

• Educators
• French Authors
• Governesses

References: British Census (1871, 1891, 1901, 1911); Hampshire Advertiser (17 March 1934); Probate; Times (14 March 1934; 23 February 1973)

Fiction Titles:

1. The Good Old Days: or, Christmas under Queen Elizabeth.  1 vol.  London: Marcus Ward, 1876.
2. The Little Brown Girl: A Story for Children.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1877.
3. Mimi: A Story of Peasant Life in Normandy.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1879.
4. Master Trim's Charge.  1 vol.  London: Marcus Ward, 1879.
5. How They were Caught in a Trap: A Tale of France in 1802.  1 vol.  London: Marcus Ward, 1880.
6. The Belfry of St. Jude: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1880.
7. The White Chapel: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1881.
8. Overtaken by the Tide: or, Holidays at Old Port. A Story.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Institute, 1881.
9. Vanda: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1881.
10. Isabeau's Hero: A Story of the Revolt of the Cevennes.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1882.
11. Adé, a Story of German Life.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1882.
12. Lia: A Tale of Nuremberg.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1883.
13. The Fate of Castle Löwengard: A Story of the Days of Luther.  1 vol.  london: Suttaby and Co., 1884.
14. An Out-of-the-way Place: A Story.  1 vol.  london: Suttaby and Co., 1884.
15. The Prisoner's Daughter: A Story of 1758.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1884.
16. Morning Grey: A Novel.  3 vol.  London: Ward and Downey, 1885.
17. A Faire Damzell: A Novel.  3 vol.  London: Hurst and Blackett, 1885.
18. Miss Fenwick's Failures: or, Peggy Pepper-Pot.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1885.
19. The Last Hope.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1885.
20. Jesse Dearlove: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1885.
21. A Little Place.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1885.
22. The Unwelcome Guest: A Story for Girls.  1 vol.  London: Griffith and Farran, 1886.
23. Ursula's Fortune: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1886.
24. Muriel's Marriage: A Novel.  3 vol.  London: Hurst and Blackett, 1887.
25. For Half a Crown: A Story.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1887.
26. The Goldmakers.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1887.
27. In his Grasp.  1 vol.  London: W. H. Allen, 1887.
28. Joan Vellacot: A Novel.  3 vol.  London: Bentley, 1888.
29. Carried Off: A Story of Pirate Times.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1888.
30. An Idle Farthing: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1888.
31. Daisy's King.  1 vol.  London: Walter Smith, 1888.
32. One for the Other: Stories of French Life.  3 vol.  London: Ward and Downey, 1889.
33. Edgar's Wife: A Story.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1889.
34. Kestell of Greystone.  3 vol.  London: Hurst and Blackett, 1890.
35. Cast Ashore.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1890.
36. The Vicar's Trio: A Story.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1890.
37. The Silver Mine: An Underground Story.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1891.
38. Virginie's Husband: A Novel.  1 vol.  London: A. D. Innes, 1892.
39. A Small Legacy: A Story for Children.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1892.
40. A Brave Fight and Other Stories.  1 vol.  London: James Nisbet, 1892.
41. Through the Flood.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: W. & R. Chambers, 1892.
42. A Nest of Royalists.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1892.
43. By Right of Succession.  3 vol.  London: Ward and Downey, 1893.
44. A Woman of Forty: A Monograph.  2 vol.  London: Methuen, 1893.
45. Out of Reach.  1 vol.  Edinburgh: W. & R. Chambers, 1893.
46. Claudea's Island.  1 vol.  London: Sampson Low, 1893.
47. The Power of the Past.  3 vol.  London: Bentley, 1894.
48. Inscrutable.  1 vol.  London: Bliss, Sands, and Foster, 1894.
49. Married to Order: A Romance of Modern Days.  2 vol.  London: Horace Cox, 1895.
50. A Mine of Wealth.  3 vol.  London: Hurst and Blackett, 1896.
51. Arrested: A Novel.  1 vol.  London: F. V. White, 1896.
52. Harum Scarum: A Poor Relation.  1 vol.  London: Jarrold and Son, 1896.
53. The Footsteps of Fortune.  1 vol.  London: James Nisbet, 1896.
54. Tangled Threads.  1 vol.  London: Partridge, 1897.
55. The Strength of Two: A Novel.  1 vol.  London: F. V. White, 1898.
56. By Reeds and Rushes: A Story.  1 vol.  London: Oliphant, 1898.
57. The Knights of Rosemullion.  1 vol.  London: National Society's Depository, 1898.
58. Sent to Coventry.  1 vol.  London: John Long, 1898.
59. In the Dark.  1 vol.  London: John Long, 1899.
60. Christalla: An Unknown Quantity.  1 vol.  London: Methuen, 1900.
61. The Strength of Straw.  1 vol.  London: John Long, 1900.
62. Nobler than Revenge.  1 vol.  London: John Long, 1901.