Best known work

• The Heavenly Twins, 1893

Other well known work(s)

• Ideala, 1888
• The Beth Book, 1897

Genres

• Fiction - Novels
• Politics / Philosophy / Essays

Nom de plume

Frances Elizabeth Bellenden McFall, Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke

Social class

Middle class

Parental background

Father was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and a coastguard. Grand was educated at home with two years of formal schooling.

At publication of best known work

• Age: 39
• Marital status: Married
• Number of children: 1

Physical description

"the persona of Sarah Grand, often called ‘Madame’ Grand, [was] a self-styled ‘woman of genius’, who was impeccably dressed, had a charming manner, and wore distinctively large hats" (Jane Eldridge Miller, ODNB). Described in Features: An Interview with Sarah Grand as "a rather tall, slender woman, in a robe of amethyst-blue velvet. The oval face was crowned with a mass of soft, curly brown hair, drawn down into a loose curl at the nape of the neck. Great blue-grey eyes looked out at me" (Vogue Nov 14, 1895).

Did you know?

Sarah Grand is credited as the origin of the "New Woman" term in 1894. “The New Aspect of the Woman Question”, North American Review, 158 ( Mar. 1894)

Additional information

A handy introductory biog features on the Victorian Secrets site with a more comprehensive article on the Victorian Research Guides.