Rhoda Broughton was a Welsh novelist and short story writer who became one of the most popular figures of the Victorian literary scene. Born into a prominent family as the granddaughter of the eighth Broughton baronet, she was also the niece of the famous gothic writer Sheridan Le Fanu. It was Le Fanu who assisted her in launching her literary career, helping her publish her earliest works.
Broughton's early novels, such as her highly successful Cometh Up as a Flower (1867), earned her a reputation for sensationalism. This early labeling unfortunately caused critics to overlook her later, more mature writings. Despite critical neglect, she was immensely popular with the reading public, earning the moniker "queen of the circulating libraries." Her later novels explored complex and progressive themes; Dear Faustina (1897) is noted for its homoerotic undertones, while Lavinia (1902) features a gender-nonconforming male protagonist who wishes he had been born a woman.
Throughout her life, Broughton was a well-connected figure in literary circles. She maintained a long-lasting friendship with the author Henry James. She was also known for her sharp wit and her famously adversarial relationships with other prominent contemporary figures, including Lewis Carroll and Oscar Wilde. She continued writing until her death in 1920.
