A Lady of England

Under the pen name A.L.O.E. (A Lady of England), Charlotte Maria Tucker (1821-1893) wrote a wealth of stories, plays and poems for children.

In the Victorian age, perceptions of childhood were changing. Innocence and freedom became the values associated with childhood. Though religious instruction remained an important theme of children's literature, it was no longer its only purpose.

A.L.O.E. taught lessons through her stories based on her evangelical beliefs. Though some criticised A.L.O.E. for the moral tone of her writing, she was praised for her accurate portrayal of childhood. A.L.O.E. had acted as a teacher to her brother's three children.

Though 'A Lady of England' for much of her life, in 1875 and aged 54, Tucker set off for India, to become a Missionary in Amritsar. Tucker's father had been a Chairman of the East India Company. He did not approve of women working, so it was after his death that Tucker's writing career as A.L.O.E. began in earnest.

Her travels inspired her writing. Some of her works for children were translated in to Indian languages. Tucker taught herself Hindustani.

A.L.O.E.'s stories were very popular and were usually published with eye-catching pictorial covers.

Her books continued to be re-published in new editions for many years after her death.

On 2 December 1893 Charlotte Maria Tucker died in Amritsar. She left instructions for a very simple burial. A memorial inscription was placed in the local church, with a plaque in Lahore Cathedral.