Emma Robinson

Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, ER published anonymously a series of historical novels (which she called romances, but which deliberately blur the boundary between history and fiction) and two plays. She also published short stories and a poem. When her first play was banned from production by the censor, she wrote for its published text a satirical self-justification of great verve and energy. Most of her historical fictions are attached by their title to some actual figure with high recognition value, but their romance and adventure elements are often accompanied by social critique and even satire. They sold extremely well both in and beyond England, and were respectfully praised by reviewers who initially supposed them to be the work of a man. ER set some of her later novels in modern London; these contemporary works, too, are characterized by sharp social observation. It is surprising that she has so received so little critical attention in modern times.