My third article on 19th-century Irish author L.T. Meade is now online in the Southern Star newspaper of Skibbereen in West Cork, the region where Meade was born and grew up as a girl, before moving to London.
For any fan of Meade’s, this new article is worth reading as I discuss historical publications and sources about her early life, influences and homes in Ireland- and the circumstances surrounding her first, anonymous novel published while she was still in Ireland. Meade’s story is a moving testament to a Victorian-era girl’s single-minded determination to become a professional writer, despite the differing expectations of her time and family.
I have received such generous and gracious help from many people in Ireland and England in accessing the sources, from which there remains plenty more to be written, in due course, as I continue to make the case for why Meade was important, and why she deserves to be remembered today.
The editors in ‘Skib’ took an interest in the Meade case after my two-part research on Meade appeared here on Substack last month.
The Southern Star online piece linked above was published on 12 March, and followed the print version earlier in March.
In addition to all the helpful people at libraries, archives and universities in Ireland, who have helped answer my research questions, I have to thank Simon Stanhope, the British voice actor and owner of the Bitesized Audio Classics channel over on Youtube, for mentioning my work in his Community post, before his recitation of yet another Meade classic tale. Simon has done more than anyone to popularize L.T. Meade (among many other forgotten authors) for today’s general audience with his vivid and colorful readings.
Previously, he also provided me some further clues on the mystery of one of Meade’s co-authors, ‘Robert Eustace,’ who may have been multiple persons. but that is a story for another day. Here is the post with the Meade-Halifax story, on the Community page referencing my work.
A Final Note
Finally, as the purpose of my newspaper article was to draw attention to the need to remember Meade and her contributions to literature and education, you can feel free to write to the powers-that-be to express your support of that idea, which combines literary history with tourism development.
As I state in the article, I don’t tell the locals where and how to commemorate their local literary daughter, only to point out that it would be a worthy venture in general, and certainly beneficial for West Cork, Ireland, and literary travelers everywhere.
So… here is the website to contact Cork County Council.
And here is the contact website for Irish President Michael D. Higgins, a known lover of literature and the arts.
Finally, readers who have any suggestions for other magazines, newspapers or publications where you would like me to continue my future long-read research on L.T. Meade, feel free to mention so it in the comments.
I have some ideas in mind already, but as a freelance writer I’m always happy to hear more suggestions. I heartily thank my readers for continuing to support me- researching and writing noteworthy but obscure stories like the ‘L.T. Meade’ case takes considerable time and effort, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without your continued support, interest and good spirit.
Thank you all very much and have a great day, wherever the day may find you.