15 Facts About Ethel Arnold

Ethel Arnold's uncle was the poet Matthew Arnold and her grandfather Thomas Arnold, the famous headmaster of Rugby School.

Ethel Arnold's father had returned to Australia after converting to Catholicism and finding it impossible to work.

Ethel Arnold worked in Ireland but by 1865 he had renounced Catholicism and returned to being an Anglican.

Ethel Arnold met Lewis Carroll as a child and she and her sister featured in a number of his photographs.

Ethel Arnold later reported that she enjoyed the attention of having her photo taken as it was a break from her less than happy homelife.

Ethel Arnold was to remain friends with Lewis Carroll when she was still an adult.

Ethel Arnold failed to gain a university place and she seems to have placed too much weight on her sister Mary's opinion.

Mary persuaded her that her ambition to be an actress should not be pursued and she later said that Ethel Arnold had insufficient experience to be a successful writer.

Ethel Arnold took a late interest in writing between 1890 and 1900 but she spent a lot of her energy in speaking tours where she would address the issue of gaining women the vote.

Ethel Arnold wrote 400 book reviews for British newspapers and her one novel "Platonics" was said to be "promising" when it was published in 1896.

Ethel Arnold moved on from writing to take an interest in photography.

Ethel Arnold studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic in 1898 and obtained skilful results.

Ethel Arnold spoke at Carnegie Hall filling the orchestra pit and her talks were well received.

Ethel Arnold returned in 1910 offering a wide range of talks on her notable ancestors and child humorists like Lewis Carroll.

Ethel Arnold died in Totland on the Isle of Wight in 1930.