User:Persnicketyfits/Lucy Bethia Walford

Mrs. Lucy Bethia (Colquhoun) Walford, a Scottish author, wrote 45 books, the majority of them were "light-hearted domestic comedies."

Life and Work
Lucy Colquhoun was born on April 17, 1845 near Edinburgh. Her father was John Colquhoun, author of The Moor and the Loch. Her mother was Frances Sarah Maitland.

Lucy married Alfred Saunders Walford on June 23, 1869. They were married at St John's, Edinburgh and had seven children. Walford's children were "never put aside for her work" and they were "constantly with their mother." 

Mr. Smith, the character in her first book, was taken from Walford's own life experience. The character was based on an actual man named Mr. Smith who was found dead, as described in her novel.

When writing, she would seek to be as accurate as possible. Her brothers were sought out to answer any questions she had on military life. Her father was an expert on sports.

By age 65, Mrs. Walford had written 45 full-sized novels.

She died May 11, 1915 in London.

Main Works

 * Mr. Smith: A Part of His Life (1874)
 * Pauline (1877)
 * Troublesome Daughters (1881)
 * The Baby's Grandmother (1884)
 * Cousins (1885)
 * The History of a Week (1886)
 * A Mere Child (1888)
 * A Stiff-Necked Generation (1889)
 * Havoc of a Smile (1890)
 * The Mischief of Monica (1892)
 * Twelve English Authoresses (1892)
 * The Matchmaker (1893)
 * The One Good Guest (1894)
 * A Little Legacy and Other Stories (1899)
 * Sir Patrick the Paddock (1899)
 * Recollections of a Scottish Novelist (1910)
 * Memories of Victorian London (1912)
 * David and Jonathan on the Riviera (1914)