Edward Bulwer-Lytton, A Strange Story

Hayley Flynn (Independent Scholar - Europe)

Ed. by Grace Moore, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1862

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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A Strange Story

was originally serialised in the journal

All the Year Round

, after Charles Dickens, the journal’s editor, wrote to Lytton to enquire whether he might be interested in contributing “a tale” (Brown, 157). Although offering his latest story idea initially to Blackwood, with whom he had published exclusively in the past, the publisher could not match Dickens’ offer; and so, ultimately, Lytton would agree to a rate of £1500 for the serial rights, with an additional £1200 for two year exclusivity in volume form to Sampson Low, Son & Co., plus £300 for US serialisation. With this impressive sum agreed,

A Strange Story

began serialisation in August 1861, the week after the final instalment of

Great Expectations

was published.

Lytton was, however, fraught with concern

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1984 words

Citation: Flynn, Hayley. "A Strange Story". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 October 2022 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6957, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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