Lifespan: 1851-1904
Nationality: English
Types of Work: Novels, poems, short stories
Style: Some works reflect her ever-changing religious views; she tended to focus on the middle-class, provincials, of non-conformist political views.
Bio: Adeline was born at Ashbourne, Derbyshire on July 4, 1851. She was the second daughter of Richard and Jane Sergeant. Her father, a Wesleyan minister, published many sermons and pamphlets. Initially educated by her mother, Adeline was sent to Laleham School at 13, then attended Queen's College. After finishing school, she became a governess.
At 15, she had a book of poems published which were widely received. Her first novel, Jacobi's Wife was published serially in 1882. Afterwards, she began writing prolifically, publishing two novels a year for several years.
Religiously, her views changed frequently. Born into the Wesleyan church, she joined the Church of England after her father's death, then spent some years as a self-proclaimed agnostic, then became involved in an extreme ritualistic sect at St Alban's, Holborn, and, finally, in 1899, she was received into the Catholic church. Her varying, ever-changing religious views often manifest themselves in her novels. Despite her religious views, Adeline was described as generous and took an active interest in humanitarian works.
Adeline wrote over 90 novels and stories, with some of her best work coming at the end of her life. She died at Bournemouth on December 4, 1904.
Novels:
Brooke's Daughter: A Novel
A Life Sentence: A Novel
The Luck of the House: A Novel
Name and Fame: A Novel
Out of Due Season
A True Friend: A Novel
Under False Pretences
Esther Denison
The Story of a Penitent Soul
The Idol Maker
Beyond Recall
The Surrender of Margaret Bellarmine
The Story of Phil Enderby
In Vallombrosa
This Body of Death
A Soul Apart
Anthea's Way
Beneath the Veil
Jacobi's Wife