The Face in the Glass: From their pens to your ears, genius in every story

At age 5 her parents separated but her ambition to succeed was not daunted. After being privately educated she took to acting, and the minor roles she obtained where enough to support both her and her mother. This potential career waned as soon as she began writing and secured an income from it.

In 1860, she met John Maxwell, a publisher of periodicals, and moved in with him the following year. At the time Maxwell was already married with five children but his wife was confined to an Irish mental asylum. On her death they married and she had six children by him.

Braddon was prolific and wrote over 80 novels, perhaps the most famous is ‘Lady Audley's Secret’ (1862), which won her both sales and a fortune as a bestseller. She also wrote a number of historical fiction novels which again increased her reputation.

She was equally prolific as a short story writer, primarily supernatural and ghost stories, all of which continue to be anthologized to this day, such is the high regard they are kept in.

Braddon founded Belgravia magazine in 1866, its fare being serialised sensation novels, poems, travel narratives and biographies, along with essays on fashion, history and science, all lavishly illustrated. She also edited Temple Bar magazine.

Mary Elizabeth Braddon died on 4th February 1915 and is buried in Richmond Cemetery.