This is an alphabetical list of authors who published at Minerva Press, or with William Lane before he coined the name, between the founding of the press in 1790 and 1820 or so when Lane's successor, A. K. Newman, dropped "Minerva" from the company title.
Minerva Press was a publishing house notable for creating a lucrative market in sentimental and Gothic fiction in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was established in or about 1790 when William Lane (–1814) moved his circulating library to No 33 Leadenhall Street, London.
Minerva Press has been, and continues to be, a subject of considerable interest for scholars of print and popular cultures, women's writing, and the Romantic period.See, for example, Romantic textualities literature and print culture 1780-1840: Special Issue: The Minerva Press and the literary marketplace. August 2020 ; Elizabeth Neiman, Minerva's Gothics: the politics and poetics of Romantic exchange, 1780-1820. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2019; and Gary Kelly, "The popular novel, 1790–1820," The Oxford handbook of the eighteenth-century novel, edited by James Alan Downie, 2016, There is also a market for modern reissues of novels from Minerva and other Gothic authors: Valancourt Books has reissued a number of Minerva titles and Broadview Press has produced several scholarly editions of early Gothic novels.
Many of Minerva's authors remain obscure, however, as they published anonymously or under pseudonyms. Many of these attributions remain uncertain and new scholarship continues to emerge.Particularly electronic databases such as British Fiction 1800–1829 Database and The Women's Print History Project
A Anonymous: a significant proportion of Minerva Press titles, such as The Animated Skeleton (1798),Reissued by Valancourt Books. were published either anonymously or under pseudonyms.According to the British Fiction 1800–1829 Database, seventy-four (74) texts were published anonymously by the Minerva Press between 1800 and 1829. Leslie Armstrong (): one novel published by Minerva: The Anglo-Saxons (1806) Lieut. Arnold (): three novels published by Minerva, including The British Admiral (1808) Thomas Ashe (1770–1835): published one novel with Minerva
B François-Thomas-Marie de Baculard d'Arnaud (1718–1805): influential French author frequently translated into English. At least one novel published by Minerva.Minerva Press, British Fiction 1800–1829 Database Robert Bage (1730–1801): author of half a dozen novels, including James Wallace (1788) Richard Harris Barham (1788–1845): at least one novel with Minerva Eaton Stannard Barrett (1786–1820): one novel with Minerva, The Metropolis; or, A Cure for Gaming James Barton (): author of Honorina (1804) Amelia Beauclerc (): author of at least eight novels between 1810 and 1820,"Amelia Beauclerc." Orlando: women’s writing in the British Isles from the beginnings to the present. Cambridge UP. six published with Minerva Nugent Bell (pseud? ): Alexena published by Minerva in 1817.Online edition, UPenn Anna Maria Bennett ( – 1808): author of half a dozen novels between 1795 and 1806, one of which, Vicissitudes Abroad (1806), was published by Minerva. Elizabeth Bennett (): published two novels with Minerva, including Emily (1819) John Brereton Birch (): translator of The Cousins of Schiras (1797) Elizabeth Bonhôte (née Mapes; 1744–1818): author of at least nine novels between 1773 and 1810 Joseph Bounden (): poet and novelist; published Murderer (1808) with Minerva Louise Marguerite Brayer de Saint-Léon?: The Monk of the Grotto (1800) (authorship uncertain) Marianne Breton (): The Wife of Fitzalice (1817) James Norris Brewer ( – 1829): published An Old Family Legend (1811) and four other novels with Minerva Samuel Edgerton Bridges John Bristed (): author of Edward and Anna (1806) Charles Brockden Brown (1771–1810): prolific author who published at least five novels with MinervaMontague Summers, A Gothic bibliography (1941; available online at Internet Archive) Miss Broderick (): author of The Cumberland Cottager (1818) Elizabeth Cullen Brown (): author of The Sisters of St Gotherd (1819) Maria Elizabeth Budden (née Halsey, – 1832): published two novels with Minerva Mrs Bullock (): author of Susanna; or, Traits of a Modern Miss (1795) Anne Burke (): author of six novels and a comic opera; published The Secret of the Cavern (1805) with Minerva Medora Gordon Byron (): prolific author who published eight titles with Minerva
C Lady Mary C. (): "a young lady aged seventeen, i.e., Lady Mary C---r" "C., Lady Mary." The women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2672. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) Dorothea Primrose Campbell (1793–1863): poet; author of one novel, Harley Radington: A Tale (1821) John Canton (): published Alvar and Seraphina (1804) with Minerva David Carey (1784–1824): novelist, poet, and travel writer Anthony Carlisle (1768–1840): surgeon, co-discoverer of electrolysis, and possibly the author of The Horrors of Oakendale Abbey (1797) under the pseudonym "Mrs Carver.""Carver, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2228. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) Mrs Carver (): author of four novels; possibly a pseudonym for surgeon Anthony Carlisle. Mary Charlton (): prolific author who published a dozen novels and translations with Minerva Emily Clark (fl. 1798–1833): published at least four novels — two of them with Minerva — as well as tales and poems Mrs Colpoys (): author of The Irish Excursion (1801)"Colpoys, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2624. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) Cordelia (pseud.?; ): author of Dacresfield (1820) Sophie Ristaud Cottin: French author whose Elizabeth was translated by Elizabeth Meeke and published by Minerva in 1807. Helen Craik ( – 1825): published four novels with Minerva, anonymously Augustus Jacob Crandolph (): author of The Mysterious Hand, or, Subterranean Horrours! (1811) Mary Champion de Crespigny (née Clarke; c. 1749 – 1812): author of conduct literature and one novel, The Pavilion (1796), published with Minerva Mrs Croffts (): published two novels with Minerva"Croffts, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2319. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) Margaret Cullen (): author of Home (1803) and Mornton (1814) T. J. Horsley Curties (): published at least three novels with Minerva, including Ethelwina (1799) Catherine Cuthbertson (): author of seven novels
D Robert Charles Dallas (1754–1824): author of four novels Azilé D'Arcy (): author of Prejudice (1817) Frances D'Aubigne (): author of The Express (1819) Selina Davenport (1779–1859): published eleven novels, seven with Minerva Eugenia De Acton (): published three novels, as well as conduct literature Pierre Jean Baptiste Choudard Desforges (1746–1806): French writer; author of Eugene and Eugenia (1805) Emma De Lisle (Parker; ): published eight novels Sarah Draper (): author of The Memoirs of the Princess of Zell (1796) François Guillaume Ducray-Duminil (1761–1819): prolific French novelist and playwright whose work was frequently translated into English. Minerva published four titles."Draper, Sarah." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2436. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) Francis Dudley (): author of Amoroso (1810) Lady Dunn ()
E Felix Ellia (): author of Norman Banditti (1799) Jane Elson (): published two novels with Minerva"Elson, Jane." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 1632. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP) John English (): author of The Grey Friar (1810) Alicia Margaret Ennis (): author of The Contested Election (1820) Robert Evans (): published one novel with Minerva
F James Holroyd Fielding (): published one title with Minerva Eliza Fenwick (1767–1840): Mainly a children's author, Fenwick wrote one novel for adults: Secresy; or the Ruin on the Rock (1795)Broadview Press published a scholarly edition in 1998. Lawrence Flammenberg (pseud. of Karl Friedrich Kahlert): author of The Necromancer; or, The Tale of the Black Forest (1794) E. M. Foster (): published fourteen novels, five of them with Minerva Joseph Fox, Jr (): published three novels Sophia L. Frances (): published at least five novels, three with Minerva. Her work was formerly attributed to Francis Lathom."Frances, Sophia." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2733. Accessed 2022-06-09. (WPHP)
G Stéphanie Félicité, comtesse de Genlis (1746–1830): According to Montague Summers, her novel The Poetical Travels of Eugenius and Antonia was translated from the French by Harriet Jones and published by Minerva in 1820, though only one novel, The Impertinent Wife (1806), is mentioned in British Fiction 1800–1829. Sarah Green (): published seventeen, possibly eighteen novels, at least six with Minerva; rumours, since discredited, that the name was a pseudonym to hide the gender of the author Griffiths ap Griffiths: The Sons of St. David (1816) Carl Friedrich August Grosse (1768–1847): author of Der Genius. Aus den Papieren des Marquis C. von G. (Halle, 1791–1795), adapted into English by Peter Will as Horrid Mysteries (1796), one of the seven "horrid novels" mentioned in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Susannah Gunning (née Minifie; 1740–1800): published with Minerva later in her career.Milberger, Kurt Edward, "‘The first impression, you, yourself, will buy’: The Gunninghiad, Virginius and Virginia and the art of scandal at the Minerva Press." Romantic textualities; Cardiff Iss. 23 (Summer 2020). There remains some confusion as to the authorship of some titles between Minifie and her sister and sometime collaborator, Margaret Minifie.
H E.H.H. (): author of The Highlander (1819) Agnes C. Hall (pseud Rosalia St. Clair; née Scott; 1777–1846): novelist and translator with over a dozen titles published under pseud Rosalia St. Clair Mary Ann Hanway (): travel writer and novelist who published at least two titles with Minerva Martha Harley (later Hugill; fl. 1786–1797): author of at least six novels Catherine Harris (): author of Edwardina (1800) William Hart Jane Harvey (): author of over a dozen novels, five with Minerva, as well as poetry and other works. Caroline Harwood (): author of The Castle of Vivaldi (1810) H. H. Hasworth (): author of Lady of the Cave (1802) Ann Julia Hatton (pseud "Ann of Swansea"; née Kemble, then Curtis; 1764–1838): Between 1810 and 1831 she published fourteen novels "by no means lacking in quality", at least eleven with Minerva Press. C. D. Haynes (later Golland; ): four novels with Minerva Mary Anne Hedge (): published at least one title with Minerva; author of other novels, poetry, and educational texts Elizabeth Helme (died ): successful and prolific novelist, educational writer, and translator J. Hemet (): translator of Odd Enough to Be Sure! (Lafontaine, 1802) Elizabeth Hervey (née Marsh; 1748 – c. 1820): author of Melissa and Marcia and six other novels; William Beckford's half sister William B. Hewetson (): novelist and translator Mary Hill (): author of Anselmo; or, The Day of Trial (1813) Augusta Ann Hirst (): author of Helen; or, Domestic Occurrences (1807)"Hirst, Augusta Ann" The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2738. Accessed 2022-06-14. (WPHP) Barbara Hofland (née Wreakes; then Hoole; 1770–1844): author of sixty-six or so works, eight with Minerva Mr Holder (): author of Secluded Man (1798) Margaret Holford (1757–1834): her works are sometimes confused with those of her daughter Margaret Holford. Both authors published anonymously. Margaret Holford (later Hobson; 1778–1852): her works are sometimes confused with those of her mother Margaret Holford. Both authors published anonymously. Anthony Frederick Holstein (pseud.; ): published at least ten novels with Minerva Prudentia Homespun (pseud. for Jane West) Sarah Anne Hook (): author of Secret Machinations (1804) and at least one other title