Robert Hope Moncrieff

Robert Hope Moncrieff[note 1] (1846  1927) was a prolific Scottish author of children's fiction and of Black's Guides.

Robert Hope Moncrieff
Born(1846-02-26)26 February 1846
Died10 August 1927(1927-08-10) (aged 81)
NationalityScottish
Other namesAscott R. Hope
OccupationAuthor
Years active1864  1927
Known forChildren's fiction and guidebooks
Notable work
The world of to-day... in 6 volumes (1905)

Early life

Robert Hope Moncrieff was born on 26 February 1846, the lawful son[1] of George Moncrieff (11 May 1917  16 May 1865), a solicitor and his first wife Angela Birch (19 September 1820  25 December 1848). The couple had married the previous year in St Brides Church in Liverpool on 2 June 1845.[2] Robert was quickly followed by a brother, John Forbes (5 July 1847  7 March 1927), and a sister, Angela Mary (27 November 1848  8 March 1864).

Moncrieff's mother, Angela, died of childbed fever[3] four weeks after the birth of Angela Mary. Moncrieff was under three. His father married a second time on 27 June 1854 to Maria Wilks Williamson Rodgers (1830  30 March 1859) in Kilkenny, Ireland.[note 2] The family now lived at No 7, Atholl Crescent[note 3] in Perth. Maria gave George three more children: George Henry (2 November 1855  23 February 1947); Francis Edward (24 March 1857  7 January 1884); and Henrietta (14 June 1858  30 April 1859), who died in infancy.[note 4]

Moncrieff's step-mother, Maria, died[note 5] when he was just 13, and his father married again before he was 15. His third wife was Isabella Roy (29 October 1828  18 January 1879)[4][5] whom he married on 16 January 1861 in 2, Atholl Crescent.[note 6] Perth, Scotland. Her father was not a soldier, but the Captain of a ship trading in Asia[6] with the permission of the East India Company.[7]

Moncrieff and his brother were in boarding school by the time their father married for the third time. The 1861 Census shows both Moncrieff (15) and his brother John (13) boarding at the Circus Place School in Edinburgh. This was a highly regarded school[8] which prepared pupils for the Edinburgh Academy. Moncrieff went on to attend the Edinburgh Academy and then the University of Edinburgh.[9]

Moncrieff's father died four in 1865,[note 7] four years after his third marriage.[10] when Moncrieff was 19. Moncrieff wrote nearly fifty years later that his mother had died before he knew her and that: my father also was taken too soon, leaving me precociously independent.[11] Not one of his father's three marriages lasted five years, all ending prematurely with the death of either wife or husband. Moncrieff himself never married.

Writing

Before he was out of his teens, Moncrieff had written and made money by a real book.[12][note 8] While he attended the University of Edinburgh he wrote A book about Dominies (1867), Dominies being a term used for schoolmasters in Scotland. This was taken by a publisher, who published it at his own expense with a promise of profit to the author, which proved rather a mirage in the cold light of publishing accounts.[12][note 9] It was published anonymously with no author's name given. The book was well reviewed and went into several editions. Moncrieff followed this up with A Book About Boys, (1868) adopting his pseudonym Ascott R. Hope for the first time.[13] Moncrieff was ashamed of some of his early books and went to some expense to withdraw them from circulation.[14]

Moncrieff says that he had have made awkward attempts at more than one handicraft, with the view of gathering straw for literary bricks.[15] He was said to have taken up teaching briefly more with the purpose of studying schoolboys and their ways than to making it a profession.[16]

Moncrieff travelled extensively. Even his census returns in the UK show how much he bounced around:

  • 1851  Living with his widowed father and two siblings in Perth. 5 years old.
  • 1861  At the Circus Place School in Edinburgh with his brother John.
  • 1871  An assistant master at Christ College, Brecon in Wales.
  • 1881  Boarding at 8, Victoria Grove, in Kensington, London. Profession now is Author.
  • 1891  Boarding at Hillside Boarding Lodge in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Profession is Author. The 13th edition of Black's Guide to the Isle of Wight, edited by Moncrieff, was published in 1895.[17]
  • 1901  Now 55 years old. Moncrieff was no longer boarding, but was at the head of his own establishment at 85 Munster Road in Fulham, London. No relatives in the house, but the house also holds his 60-year-old housekeeper and her adult daughter. The electoral register show that he was still there in 1907.
  • 1911  Only occupant of 5 Chandos Road, Cricklewood, London, apart from a 52-year-old housekeeper.
  • 1927  On his death at 81 years-of-age he was living at 16a Addison Gardens, Kensington, London.

Moncrieff not only travelled the whole of Great Britain, but he also travelled internationally. He wrote: It has been by lot to be a good deal about the world from an early age. After a boyish visit to Paris, my travels began with a cruise in the Mediterranean and a stay in Italy, still heaving from Garibaldi's exploits. Moncrieff travelled, and visited four continents. He even tried his hand at farming in Canada, but soon abandoned it.[15] All of his travels contributed not only to the background for his books, but also supported his books on geography and history. Moncrieff suffered from short-sightedness and this led him to favour occupations such as walking and riding. And these leisurely pursuits allowed him to make observations that he made use of when writing on topographical topics.[18]

His study of the geography of the world, The world of to-day : a survey of the lands and peoples of the globe as seen in travel and commerce (1905) took him five years, and was updated every two years or so. Moncrieff wrote ever word of the six volumes, bar a single page.[19]

Moncrieff was a member of first the Savile and later of the Athenaeum. He was of a kindly nature and always ready to do good to others, but in a discreet way.[9] He wrote that his work seldom brought him into contact with fellow authors, and that still less had he cultivated what is called smart society.[15] His view of the world's affairs was mainly that of a looker-on.[15] He wrote: I have lived my life in my own way, and that his writing was the sum of his accomplishments.

Death

Moncrieff died at Eltham, London, England on 10 August 1927. He was living at 16a Addison Gardens in Kensington, London at the time. He left an estate valued at £11,482 14s 6d. His step-brother George survived him by 20 years.

Short stories and serials

Moncrieff contributed stories to numerous Boy's Papers and Magazines. He has stories in the first issues of the Boy's Own Paper and Union Jack. The following is a very incomplete list, drawn from Steve Holland's British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index.[20] Some of the stories, like Dick's Dog, later reappeared in books of stories by Moncrieff.

Serials and short stories in Boy's Papers by Moncrieff
No.OrderYearTitleJournalPtIllustratorVol.Iss.PageLength
11187918 JanThe BogleThe Boy’s Own Paper11172
225 Jan212271
32187901 FebThe Black BookThe Boy’s Own Paper113343
408 Feb214543
53187905 AprAt the MastheadThe Boy’s Own Paper11121852
612 Apr21132012
719 Apr31142143
84187919 JulCaught OutThe Boy’s Own Paper11284332
926 Jul21294552
105188001 JanThe Magician’s Apprentice; An Old Tale RetoldThe Union Jack111142
116188008 JanThe Great Unknown; Or, The Adventures of Robbin, Bobbin, Watkin, And PippinThe Union Jack112302
1215 Jan213462
1322 Jan314612
1429 Jan415782
157188001 AprBoots!; Or, The True HeroThe Union Jack1Horace Petherick1142103
168188207 OctThe Troubles of a DominieThe Boy’s Own Paper1519592
1714 Oct25196291
189188328 JulThe Tell-Tale; A School StoryThe Boy’s Own Paper152376972
1904 Aug252387181
2011 Aug352397301
2125 Aug452417584
2201 Sep552427772
2308 Sep652437901
2410188623 JanDick’s DogThe Boy’s Own Paper183672521
2530 Jan283682811
2611188624 JulMiss Molly Mick MacThe Boy’s Own Paper183936811
2731 Jul283946921
2812188611 SepBoby BounceThe Boy’s Own Paper184007941
2913189006 SepMy Travels in Africa. From a Schoolboy’s JournalThe Boy’s Own Paper1126087772
3013 Sep2126097912
3120 Sep3126108061
3227 Sep4126118172
3314189110 OctWell Caught! A Grammar School StoryThe Boy’s Own Paper114665252
3415189206 AugLeft Behind. A Story of Holiday MisfortunesThe Boy’s Own Paper1147087142
3513 Aug2147097292
36161892XmasThe Good Old TimesThe Boy’s Own Paper114Xmas53
3717189303 JunThe Merry Swiss BootsThe Boy’s Own Paper1157515652
3810 Jun2157525812
3917 Jun3157535982
4024 Jun4157546132
41181893SummerThe Holiday TirolerThe Boy’s Own Paper115Summer173
4219189409 JunThe McKickshaws. An Old Boy’s RecollectionsThe Boy’s Own Paper1168045613
4316 Jun2168055773
4423 Jun3168065933
4530 Jun4168076093
4607 Jul5168086253
4714 Jul6168096422
4820189404 AugAn Adventure with the ApachesThe Boy’s Own Paper1168126892
4911 Aug2168137052
5018 Aug3168147212
5121189406 OctHard Up! A Story of ExmoorThe Boy’s Own Paper11782152
5213 Oct217822212
5320 Oct317823382
5427 Oct417824533
5503 Nov517825402
5610 Nov617826852

Books other than Black's Guides

In the semi-autobiographical A Book About Authors (1914) Moncrieff wrote that: For more than forty years I have been an author of all work, what the contemptuous call a hack...[19] His range was very broad and included:

  • School stories for boys
  • Serial stories in boy's papers
  • Translations of works in other languages. Moncrieff says he spent his time when travelling learning other languages and translating works in them.[18]
  • Books about religion  including martyrdom and religious persecution
  • Entertaining essays  about being a teacher, about school boys, etc.
  • Encyclopedic and instructional works  about animals, history, or geography, etc.
  • Black's Guides for tourists

This following section lists the guides that Moncrieff worked on, while this section lists books other than the guides.

Books written or translated by Moncrieff
YearTitleIllustratorPagesPlacePublisher
1864“Get thee behind me, Satan” : a story for boys23 p., [1] leaf of plates : 1 ill. ; 14 cm.LondonSPCK
1865Oudendale: a story of schoolboy life354 p. 19 cm.LondonWilliam Mackingtosh
1865The lycee boys : or, school life in France151 p. ; 17 cm.; ill.EdinburghOliphant & Co
1866The martyr shepherd : a story of the Scottish Covenanters158 p. : plates ; 17 cm.EdinburghOliphant & Co
1866Horace Hazelwood, or Little things and other tales (Title work by Moncrieff with contributions by various others)William Smallviii, 328, 16 pages, 1 unnumbered leaf of plates : illustrations ; 18 cm.EdinburghJohnstone, Hunter, and Co
1867A book about Dominies : being the reflections and recollections of a member of the profession211p. + 24.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1868A book about boys, 2nd ed.xii, 252 p. 18 cm.Edinburgh
1868Stories of school life, 2nd ed.xii, 439 p. ; 8vo.EdinburghW.P. Nimmo
1868Mr. Leslie's stories150, [4]p, plates ; 17.3 cm.EdinburghOliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier
1869A Book about Dominies ... 2nd ed.vi, 248 pages ; (8º)EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1870Texts from the Times, etcxi, 252 p. ; 19 cm.Edinburgh
1870My schoolboy friends : a story of Whitminster Grammar School354 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonW. P. Nimmo
1870The exiles of France159, [1]p, plates ; 16.5 cm.EdinburghOliphant & Co
1871Stories of French school life. [With plates.]8vo.Edinburgh
1871Stories about boysviii, 271 p., [5] leaves of plates : illus. ; 19 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1872Master John Bull. A holiday book for parents and schoolmasters, etc(8º)Edinburgh
1873Stories of Whitminster312 p. : ill ; 20 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1874A Peck of Troubles. An account of certain misfortunes which happened to certain young people of Whitminster[note 10](8º)LondonSunday School Union
1874Hope's annual. [by A.R.H. Moncrieff]cm.18Edinburgh
1874The night before the holidays : Hope's annualvii, 205 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1875The holiday task : an occasional magazine of contributions by the pupils of Whitminster Grammar School and their friendsGordon Browne127, [8] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonW. P. Nimmo
1875The day after the holidaysGordon Browne203 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonW. P. Nimmo
1875Famous historical scenes from three centuries : Pictures of celebrated events from the Reformation to the end of the French Revolution. Selected from the works of standard authors.Add. engr. t.-pl, vii, [1], 600 p., frontis. plate ; 23 cm.LondonW. P. Nimmo
1876Round about the Minster Green; Stories of the boys and girls who lived there, etc(8º) illEdinburgh
1876'The Pampas' : a story of adventure in the Argentine Republic[note 11]Gordon Browneviii, 312 p., [9] leaves of plates : 9 ill. (1 col.) ; 18 cm.LondonW. P. Nimmo
1877The old tales of chivalryxii, 276 p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. ; 18 cm.EdinburghGall & Inglis
1877The heroes of young Americaix, 318 p., [7] leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 19 cm.LondonEdward Stanford
1878The Young Rebels: a story of the Battle of Lexington(8º) illust.LondonSunday School Union
1878George's enemies : a sequel to "My schoolboy friends"312 pages, 4 leaves of plates : illustrations ; 18 cmLondonW. P. Nimmo
1879Buttons; : the narrative of the trials and travels of a young gentleman[8], 232 p. ; 17.5 cm.LondonGriffith & Farran
1880The Men of the Backwoods; true stories and sketches of the Indians and the Indian Fighters ... Illustrated, etc(8º)London
1880Seven stories about old folks and young ones. By A. R. H293 pages ; (8º)LondonGriffith & Farran
1880Wonders of the volcano128 p. : 10 ill. ; 17 cm.LondonGall & Inglis
1881Stories of Young Adventurers ... With illustrations380 pages ; (8º)LondonJohn Hogg
1881The Daughter of the Regiment. A story from My Grandmother's Journal, etcCharles Oliver Murray148 pages ; (8º)LondonSunday School Union
1881Stories of Long Ago [adapted from the “Gesta Romanorum,” etc.]. Retold by A. R. Hope ... With ... illustrations by Charles Oliver Murray, etcCharles Oliver Murrayxvi, 255 pages ; (8º)LondonJohn Walker & Co
1881Wonders of Electricity, etc128 pages ; (8º); illustLondonGall & Inglis
1882A Book of Boyhoods, etc382 pages ; (8º)LondonJohn Hogg
1882Our Homemade Stories, etc346 pages ; (8º)LondonJohn Hogg
1883Kidnapped; or, Lewis Lloyd's Adventures in Virginia128 pages ; (8º)LondonSunday School Union
1883Evenings away from home : a modern miscellany of entertainment for young masters and missesGordon Browne351p : ill ; 18 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1883Stories of old renown : tales of knights and heroesGordon Brownexvi, 286 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonBlackie & son
1884Stories out of school-timevi, 343, 23 p. : ill. ; 18 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1884The Wigwam and the War-Path: or, tales of the Red Indians, etcGordon Browne352 pages ; (8º), [6] leaves of plates : ill.LondonBlackie & Son
1885Stories of Wild Beasts, etc304 pages ; (8º)LondonGall & Inglis
1885Wonders of the ice world128 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 17 cm.LondonGall & Inglis
1885Young days of authorsxiv, 380 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 18 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1885Spindle stories : new yarns spun from old woolCharles Oliver Murray220 p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 20 cm.LondonG. Routledge & Sons
1886'Dumps', and other stories, by Ascott R. Hopecm.16Edinburgh
1886A Handful of StoriesCharles Oliver Murray128 pages ; (8º)LondonCKS
1886The Vulture's Nest and other stories (adapted ... from the German)128 pages ; (8º)EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1886The hermit's apprenticeGordon Browne219 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1887Dick's dog and other stories of country boysEdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1887Schoolboy Storiesvi, 248 pages ; (8º)EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1887Boy's own storiesvi, 360 pages ; (8º); illLondonT. Fisher Unwin
1887The seven wise scholarsGordon Browneviii, 223, 32 p. ; 21 cm.LondonBlackhill & Son
1887Scenes from our century, selected from standard historians and other writers, by A.R.H. Moncrieffvii, 442 p., [7] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.London
1888A Book of Bow-wows36 pages ; (oblong 8º); illLondonCharles & Co
1888Youngsters' yarnsCharles Oliver Murrayx, 372 p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonG. Routledge & Sons
1888Romance of the mountainsvi, 376, 24 p., [12] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1889Dogs' delight32 p. ; 15 cm.LondonSPCK
1889Phil's fortune31 p. ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1889Playing at soldiers32 p. ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1889The hermit and the herbs31 p. ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1889Fred's Fun16 pages ; (8º)LondonCKS
1889The Apprentice Prince47 pages ; (8º)LondonCKS
1889The Scarecrow's Story16 pages ; (8º)LondonCKS
1889An emigrant boy's story128, 8 p., 1 p. of plates : ill. ; 17 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1889Romance of the forestsxii, 336 p., [12] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1890The dream donkey32p ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1891Redskin and Paleface. Romance and adventure of the Plains. ... With twelve illustrationsx. 338 pages ; (8º)LondonJohn Hogg
1891A string of storiesP. Hardy160, [16] p. : 19 cm.LondonGeorge Cauldwell
1891A handful of stories128 p. : ill. ; 16.8 cm.LondonSPCK
1891In forest and jungle; or, Adventures with wild beasts304p,[8]leaves of plates ill 20 cmLondonGall & Inglis
1892My Schoolfellows250 pages ; (8º)LondonBiggs & Co
1892The Lost Dog and other stories128 pages ; (8º)LondonBlackie & Son
1892Stories by Ascott R. Hope [selected from his collections of short stories previously published]xii, 447 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1892Stories, etcxii, 447 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1892Nutcracker and mouse king, and Educated cat by E. T. A. Hoffmanviii, 198 p. : ill. ; 17 cm.LondonT. Fisher Unwin
1892Our storiesvi, 240 , [8] p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonBiggs & Co
1892Royal youths : a book of princehoods[8], 355, [9] leaves of plates : ill., ports. ; 21 cm.LondonT. Fisher Unwin
1893Animal Adventures124 pages ; (8º)EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1893Cap and Gown Comedy. A Schoolmaster's Stories342 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1893Stories of the Wild West246, 16 p., [6] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1893The men of the backwoods: true stories and sketches of the Indians and the Indian fighters, New rev. ed.Charles Oliver Murray488, 32 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonGriffith & Farran
1894Heroes in homespun : scenes and stories from the American Emancipation movement380, [4] p. ; 8°LondonSPCK
1894Toby : his experiences and opinionsiv, 151 p. : ill., frontis. ; 16 cm.LondonA.D. Innes & Co
1895Voyages en zigzag ... Selected, translated, and edited from Rodolphe Toepffer127 p.
1895Ups and Downs; or, the Life of a Kite80 pages ; (8º)LondonCKS
1895Walter's Feats. From the Swedish of Z. Topelius. Translated [from “Läsning för Barn”] by A. R. Hope96 pages ; (8º)LondonBlackie & Son
1895Young Travellers' Tales, etcH. J. Draper288 pages ; (8º)LondonBlackie & Son
1896Black and blueCharles Oliver Murray364 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1896The lad from LondonHarold Copping120, 32 p. : ill. ; 18 cm.LondonJohn Hogg
1896The story of the Indian Mutiny243 p., 8 p. of plates : 8 ill. ; 20 cm.LondonFrederick Warne and Co
1896The white rat16 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 16 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1896On the war-path and other schoolboy stories4 unnumbered pages, viii, 315 pages, 1 unnumbered page : illustrations ; 19.0 cmLondonGall & Inglis
1897The Parish clerk128p ; 19 cm.LondonSPCK
1897The Fire at the Farm64 pages ; (8º)LondonDean & Son
1897Half-Text History: chronicles of school lifevi, 336 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1897The Battle of Whistlebunkers and other stories64 pages ; (8º); illLondonDean & Son
1898Hero and heroine, by Ascott R. Hopecm.19London
1898Mr. Dalton's prescription : and other stories269, [3] p. : 14 ill. ; 19 cm.LondonSunday School Union
1899Ready-Made Romance. Reminiscences of youthful adventure358 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1900Precocious prodigiesp. 811-813 ; 8vo.LondonReligious Tract Society
1900Sandy's secret128, 16 p. ; 19 cm.EdinburghW. P. Nimmo
1900Tales for TobyW. Heath Robinson and S. Jacobsx, 207 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonJ. M. Dent & Co
1902A midsummer carolH. K. Robinson96, [8] p. : ill. ; 18 cm.LondonErnest Nister
1904Young head on old shoulders179 p., [5] leaves of plates : ill.LondonSunday School Union
1904StoriesD. Furnissxii, 447 p., [8] leaves of plates : 8 col. ill. ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1905Die Ostereier by Johann Christoph von Schmid. Translated, abridged and edited.52 p.
1905Die zwei Brüder by Jacob Grimm. Translated and edited.
1905The Schoolboy Abroad308 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1905Wilful Willie48 p. : ill. ; 17 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1905Stories from Grimm (translated)122 p. : ill. ; 17 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1905Round the world1 v. (unpaged) : ill. ; 26 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1905The world of to-day : a survey of the lands and peoples of the globe as seen in travel and commerce6 volumes : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cmLondonGresham Pub. Co
1905The adventures of PunchS. Baghot-De la Bere207 p., [12] leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 22 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1906Heroes of European history256 p., [13] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 20 cm.London
1907Dramas in Duodecimo: abstracts and brief chronicles of youthvi. 319 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1908The worldviii,184p.,37 leaves of plates : ill.(some col.),1 folded map ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1909Adventurers in AmericaHenry Sandhamix, 355p : 12 f.p. col. ill ; 21 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1909Seeing the world : the adventures of a young mountaineerGordon Browne296 p., [5] leaves of plates : 5 col. ill. ; 22 cm.LondonWells Gardner, Darton
1909Beasts of businessGeorge Vernon Stokesviii, 244 p., [8] leaves of plates : col. ill., frontis. ; 21 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1910Fifty-Two Stories of Classic Heroes ... Edited by Francis StorrFrank C. Papé400 pages ; (8º)LondonGriffith & Farran
1912Stories of Wild Beasts and their curious traits ... With illustrations304 pages ; (8º)LondonGall & Inglis
1912Romance and legend of chivalryxii, 439 p. : ill., plates (some col.) ; 22 cm.LondonGresham Pub. Co
1912Classic myth and legendxvi, 443 p., 48 p. of plates (some col.) : ill. ; 22 cm.LondonGresham Pub. Co
1913Heroes of the European Nations. [Another edition of “Heroes of European History.” With illustrations.]vii, 194 p.
1913Leaders & Landmarks in European History, from early to modern times. By A. R. Hope Moncrieff ... & the Rev. H. J. Chaytor, etc. [With plates and maps.]4 volumes ; (8º)LondonGresham Pub. Co
1913Half and Half Tragedy. Scenes in black and whitevi, 340 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1914A book about authors : reflections and recollections of a bookvii, 308 p. ; 21 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1915The School of Arms: stories of boy soldiers and sailorsviii, 335 pages ; (8º)LondonG. Routledge & Sons
1916The home story book: with George Manville Fenn107 p. ; 4to.London
1918Holiday Adventures ... New edition [of “An Album of Adventures”], etc332 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1918The adventures of two runawaysT. M. R. Whitwell352 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1919The McKickshaws at School ... With ... illustrations, etc. (First published as “Half-Text History.”)336 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1919Schoolboys of other landsWalter Paget[iv], 308 p., [8] leaves of plates (incl. front.) : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1920The New World of To-Day ... With economic data supplied by Lionel W. Lyde ... and a series of maps. [Illustrated.]L. W. Lyde(8º)LondonGresham Pub. Co
1920Chieftain and chum : the story of a Highland holidayAllan Stewartvi, 308 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1922The fairy Christmas-boxes1 v. ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1922The home service : a household history320 p. ; 19 cm.LondonSelwyn & Blount
1923Heroines of European history191 p., [9] p. of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.LondonGresham Pub. Co
1924Boys of Whitminster312 p. ; 19 cm.LondonSampson Low, Marston
1924Redskins and settlers : stories of the wild west248, 16 p. ; 19 cm.LondonSampson Low, Marston
1924The truant from school : an adventure in the backwoods282 p., [8] leaves of plates : 8 ill. ; 19 cm.LondonSampson Low, Marston
1924The rise of the British Empire192 p., [16] plates : ill., plates, ports ; 22 cm.LondonBlackie & Son
1925A book about schools, schoolboys, schoolmasters and schoolbooksvii, 312 p ; 23 cm.LondonA. & C. Black
1926The adventures of lazybones62p ; 16 cm.LondonSPCK
1927Comedies of Error. A book about ourselvesvii, 304 pages ; (8º)LondonA. & C. Black
1928Robert Hope Moncrieff: a memorial volume, etc. [Papers intended for a projected book “Romances of America.” With a portrait.]xx, 156 pages ; (8º); portrait frontispieceLondonPrinted for private circulation
1929Are ministerial missionaries needed?25 p. ; 18 cm.ShanghaiPresbyterian Mission Press

Black's Guides

Adam and Charles Black published an extensive series of guides known as Black's Guides, as well as illustrated books describing different localities. Although Moncrieff is usually credited as the editor, the work was more involved than the term editor would suggest. Moncrieff said: I have edited, that is mainly written, or re-written, some dozens of guide-books, most of them appearing in successive editions.[18] The list of those which could be found in searches on the Jisc Library Hub Discover, which aggregates catalogues for academic libraries, and libraries of record in the UK and Ireland.[21] The differences between the editions were not trivial, and sometimes involved a complete rewrite. The more popular books were revised more often than the less popular books, as changes in railways, towns and cities, and in hotels and attractions brought the need for new editions. The table below is not exhaustive as not all of the different editions are held in the libraries.

The guides fall into two broad categories:

  • Books with a great deal of colour illustration with notes, such as Bonnie Scotland (1904), later republished as Scotland (1922). This had 75 leaves of colour illustrations from paintings by Harold Sutton Palmer. The notes did not so much describe the views painted, but put them in a historical and literary context, together with railway directions.
  • The Guides proper: Books that serve as tour guides, with maps, and accounts of places of interest, and journeys, be they on foot along the coast, or by rail or road.
Guide books written or edited by Robert Hope Moncrieff for Adam and Charles Black Limited
YearTitleEditionIllustratorPages
1892Where shall we go? A guide to the watering-places and health resorts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.12th ed.pp. xxv, 348: plates; maps. ; 17 cm.
1893Where to go Abroad. A guide to the watering-places and health resorts of Europe, the Mediterranean, etc. [With map.]xxii. 466 pages ; (8º)
1895Black's Guide to the Isle of Wight including sailing directions for the Solent13th ed.Maps by Walker and Boutallviii, 122p. maps ; sm.8vo.
1895Black's guide to Devonshire15th ed.232 p., [10] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1895Black's guide to Cornwall16th ed.x, 186 p., [8] leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1896Black's guide to Bournemouth and the New Forest71 p., [3] folded leaves : maps ; 17 cm.
1896Black's guide to Leamington, Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Kenilworth & Coventry8th ed.82, 128, [2] p., [5] leaves of plates (some folded) : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1896Black's guide to the county of Sussex and its watering places10th ed.200,128p, [10]leaves of plates(6 fold) : ill, maps, plans ; 17 cm.
1896Black's guide to the English Lakes22nd ed.x, 223 p., [11] leaves & [8] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1896Black's guide to Edinburgh24th ed.[8],110,[2],128p, 3 (fold)plates : illus, maps, plans ; 17.2 cm.
1897Black's guide to Bath and Bristol, Clifton, Wells, Glastonbury etc6th ed.87 p., [4] leaves & [1] folded leaf of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1897Black's guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, etc14th ed.vi, 132 p., [1] leaf & [1] folded leaf of plates : map, plan ; 17 cm.
1897Black's guide to Hampshire13th ed.xii, 184 p. ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Matlock, Dovedale and central Derbyshire76 p., [4] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Bournemouth and the New Forest2nd ed.iv, 71 p., [3] folded leaves : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's Guide to Surrey5th ed.vi, 184 p., [4] folded leaves : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Buxton and the peak country of Derbyshire9th ed.87 p., [2] leaves & [3] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's shilling guide to Scotland10th ed.143 p., [2] leaves & [1] folded leaf of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Sussex and its watering-places11th ed.200 p., [7] folded leaves : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to the county of Sussex and its watering places11th ed.200,132p, [9]leaves of plates(7 fold) : ill, maps, plans ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Brighton and its environs12th ed.95 p., [1] leaf & [1] folded leaf of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Devonshire16th ed.232 p., [10] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1898Black's guide to Cornwall17th ed.x, 186 p., [9] leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1899Black's guide to Hastings & Eastbourne, St Leonards, Bexhill, Rye, Winchelsea, etc88 p., [2] leaves & [4] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1899Black's guide to Harrogate11th ed.88 p., [4] folded leaves : maps, plans ; 17 cm.
1899Black's guide to the Isle of Wight : including sailing directions for the Solent14th ed.vi, 122, 132 p., [8] leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1899Black's guide to Scarborough & Whitby, Filey, Bridlington, Saltburn, Eskdale, etc19th ed.88 p., [5] leaves & [3] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1899Black's guide to Edinburgh25th ed.110 p., [1] leaf & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps, plans ; 17 cm.
1899Blacks guide to Somerset15th ed.xvi, 231, [1], 132 p. : maps (fold., col.) ; 8vo.
1900Black's guide to the Wye120 p., [3] leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1900Black's guide to Manchester11th ed.84 p., [2] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1900Black's guide to the English Lakes23rd ed.x, 223 p., [11] leaves & [8] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1901Black's guide to West Kent : Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Rochester, etcviii, 120 p., [8] leaves of plates, [5] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1901Black's guide around Londonvi, 88 p., [5] leaves & [1] folded leaf of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1901Black's guide to Surrey6th ed.vii, 184,128p : maps(col, fold)
1901Black's guide to Cornwall18th ed.x, 132 p. : ill., maps (1 folded), plans, plates ; 17 cm.
1901Black's guide to the Trossachs, Loch Katrine, Loch Lomond, etc25th ed.viii, 92 p., [2] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide to Exeter and East Devon : Seaton, Sidmouth, Exmouth, etc76 p., [6] leaves & [3] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide around Londonviii, p. 86-156, [4] leaves & [1] folded leaves of maps : maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide to Bournemouth and the New Forest4th ed.iv, 71 p., [3] folded leaves : maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide to Leamington, Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Kenilworth & Coventry9th ed.82 p., [7] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide to Sussex and its watering-places12th ed.208 p., [5] leaves & [7] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's Guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge etc15th ed.vi, 132 p., [7] leaves & [4] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1902Black's guide to Devonshire17th ed.xix, 243 p. : ill.,maps (part folded), folded plan ; 17 cm.
1903Around London : Black's guide to the environs for twenty milesviii, 248 p., [4] leaves & [6] folded leaves of plates : maps ; 17 cm.
1903Black's guide to Manchester12th ed.84 p., [3] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1903Black's guide to Edinburgh26th ed.110 p., [8] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps, plans ; 17 cm.
1904Black's guide to Sherwood Forest and South Derbyshireiv, 60 p., [5] leaves & [2] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1904Bonnie ScotlandSutton Palmerxi, 254 p., [75] leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 23 cm.
1904Black's guide to Somerset2nd ed.xvi, 231,114p, [6]plates : ill, maps(4 fold) ; 17 cm.
1904Black's guide to Buxton and the Peak country of Derbyshire10th ed.87, 114 p. : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1904Black's guide to Derbyshire with Sherwood Forest18th ed.x, 78, 58, 56, iv p., [17] leaves & [3] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1904Black's guide to Hampshire : Bournemouth, New Forest, Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, etc15th ed.vi,188;112p., leaves of plates : ill.., maps ; 17 cm.
1905Black's guide to Surrey7th ed.vi, 184 p., [5] leaves of plates, [4] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1905Black's guide to Sussex and its watering-places13th ed.208 p., [8] leaves & [7] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1906The Highlands and Islands of ScotlandWilliam Smith, Jr.x, 231, 1 page, 40 col. preliminary leaves (incl. frontispiece) : folded map ; 23 cm.
1906Black's guide to West Kent : Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Rochester, etc2nd ed.viii, 120 p., [8] leaves of plates, [6] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1906Black's guide to Devonshire18th ed.xix, 243 pages : frontispiece, plates, maps (some folded) folded plan ; 17 cm.
1906Surrey1st ed.Sutton Palmerxi, 252 p : plates, fold. map ; 23 cm.
1907MiddlesexJohn Fulleyloveix, 159 p., [20] leaves of plates, [1] folded leaf of plates : ill., maps ; 23 cm.
1907Black's guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, etc16th ed.vi, 136 p., [7] leaves & [4] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1907Black's guide to Cornwall20th ed.x, 188 p., [16] leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1908Isle of WightAlfred Heaton Cooperviii, 175 p., [24] leaves of plates : ill. ; 23 cm. + folded maps.
1908The Peak countryW. Biscombe Gardnerxii, 182, [2] p., 24 leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 20 cm.
1908Kew GardensThomas Mower Martinx, 208 p. : frontispiece, [23] col. plates ; 21 cm.
1908Black's guide to Bath and Bristol, Clifton, Wells, Glastonbury, etc9th ed87 p. : 1 ill., maps
1909EssexLouis Burleigh Bruhlxii, 26l, 1 p. : 75 col. pl. (incl. front., fold. map) ; 23 cm.
1909The heart of ScotlandSutton Palmerx, 205 [1] p. : 24 col. pl. (incl.front.) fold. map. ; 26 cm.
1909Black's guide to West Kent : Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Rochester, etc3rd ed.viii, 120 p., [8] leaves of plates, [6] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1909Black's guide to Surrey8th ed.vi, 184 p., [4] leaves of plates & [4] folded leaves : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1910Black's guide to Devonshire18th ed.xix, 243 p. : ill. ; 17 cm.
1911Black's guide to Exeter and East Devon : Seaton, Sidmouth, Exmouth, etc2nd ed.74,96p : ill, maps(2 fold), fold.plan ; 17 cm.
1911Black's guide to Sussex and its watering-places14th ed.208, 88 p., [20] leaves of plates (7 fold.) : ill., col. maps (1 fold. in pocket) ; 17 cm.
1911Black's guide to the county of Sussex and its watering places14th ed.208,96p, [17]leaves of plates(7 fold) : ill, maps, plan ; 17 cm.
1911Black's guide to Devonshire19th ed.xix, 243, 88 p. : ill., maps
1911Black's guide to Cornwall21st ed.x, 188 p., [16] leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1913Black's guide to Hampshire: Bournemouth, New Forest, Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, etc17th ed.8vo.
1915Black's guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, etc17th ed.vi, 136p, [8]plates : ill, maps(5 fold), plan ; 17 cm.
1919Black's guide to Cornwall22nd ed.188p.
1920The cockpit of Europexii, 210 p : 32 col. plates, fold. map ; 23 cm.
1921Black's guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, etc18th ed.vi, 136 p., [5] leaves & [5] folded leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 17 cm.
1921Black's guide to Devonshire20th ed.xv, 243 p. : ill. ; 17 cm.
1922Scotland (2nd ed. of Bonnie Scotland)Sutton Palmerxi, [1], 259, [1] p. col. front., col. plates, illus. (map) 21 cm
1925Highlands and islands of Scotland2d ed.William Smith Jnr.xi, 234 p., 32 leaves of plates : ill., map. ; 21 cm.
1926Black's guide to Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, etc19th ed.vi, 136,36p, [3]plates : ill, maps(6 fold), plan ; 17 cm.
1926EssexRev. ed.Louis Burleigh Bruhlix, 261 p., [32] leaves of plates : ill. ; 22 cm.
1927DerbyshireW. Biscombe Gardner, W. Heaton Coopervii, [1], 239 p. col. front., illus. (map) col. plates. 21 cm

Notes

  1. Ascott was never part of his name, but was adopted by him as part of his pseudonym. It may have been a punning reference to his origin A Scot. He used the name A. R. Hope Moncrieff for some of his books for adults, including the semi-autobiographical A Book About Authors.
  2. The census shows that Maria Rodgers was born in Scotland. Her father was a staff officer, and presumably was posted to Ireland at the time.
  3. The house is now occupied by the Perth Citizens' Advice Bureau. Archived 2017-05-24 at the Wayback Machine
  4. The cause of death was given as hydrocephalus on the register of deaths.
  5. The death register gives the cause as consumption (this usually means what is now called Tuberculosis) of some twelve months duration.
  6. This house was occupied by Jane Hope Oliphant (31 July 1773  24 January 1861), the widow of a former officer of the East India Company. Mrs. Oliphant was rich, judging by the large number of servants she kept (housekeeper, cook, plus two female and two male servants), and generous, judging by her frequent subscriptions to good causes. Isabella's sisters, Margaret Isabel (14 October 1826  17 July 1879), and Mary Euphemia (5 April 1830  10 October 1866) were also married from this house. The house was sold for £3,225 in March 1861.
  7. The death register says that he died of consumption which he had suffered from for several years
  8. Moncrieff turned 20 in February 1866, so this book must have been published in 1864 or 1865. Oudendale: A story of schoolboy life is the most likely candidate, as the two other works dated for these years are a 24 page pamphlet for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in 1864 and a book on school life in France in 1865. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature (1991, p.259) describes the plot as follows: Charlie Campion, a pupil at Oudendale College, shows 'pluckiness' in standing up to bullies, but gets into bad company; he drinks and smokes, and causes grave anxiety to Dr. Eden the head master. He is rescued by the good effects of Confirmation  whereupon he falls off a cliff and dies a holy death. Oudendale: A story of schoolboy life at the HathiTrust Digital Library
  9. Moncrieff never placed another book with that publisher.
  10. Given as Westminster in the catalogue, but examination of the original on Google Books shows that the name is Whitminster.
  11. In A Book About Authors Moncrieff says that a fiction of his describing from materials supplied me the life of an Argentine settler, passed hardly doubted for fact (p.11)

References

  1. City and Parishes of Perth (1846-04-04). "February 1846: No. 84". Register of Births and Baptisms. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  2. Liverpool Record Office (1845-06-02). "Reference 283 BRI/3/3". Liverpool, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932. Liverpool: Liverpool Records Office. p. 208.
  3. Parish of Kinnoull. "(Old Parish Registers: Deaths 369/50 538 Kinnoull)". Register of Deaths. National Records of Scotland. p. 538.
  4. "India Office Family History Search  >  Search Results  >  Record details: Isabella Roy: Birth". British Library: India Office: Family History Search. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  5. "Wills and Probates 1858-1996: Pages for Roy and Year of Death 1879. p283". Find a Will Service. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  6. "India Office Family History Search  >  Search Results  >  Record details: Peter Roy: Marriage". British Library: India Office: Family History Search. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  7. "India Office Family History Search  >  Search Results  >  Record details: Peter Roy: Biography". British Library: India Office: Family History Search. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  8. Alexander Dallas Bache (1839). Report on Education in Europe: To the Trustees of the Girard College for Orphans. Printed by Lydia R. Bailey. pp. 196–198.
  9. ""Ascott R. Hope" Dead". Northern Whig (Saturday 13 August 1927): 10. 1927-08-13.
  10. Isabella survived him by 14 years.
  11. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 5.
  12. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 2.
  13. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 3.
  14. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 6.
  15. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 12.
  16. "Ascott R. Hope". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail (Saturday 13 August 1927): 5. 1927-08-13.
  17. "Books Received Yesterday". Westminster Gazette (Tuesday 28 May 1895): 6. 1895-05-28.
  18. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 8.
  19. Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (1914). "Introduction - The Author". A book About Authors: Reflections and Recollections of a Book-Wright. p. 9.
  20. Holland, Steve (2019-08-25). "British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index". British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index. Archived from the original on 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  21. Jisc. "About Library Hub Discover". Library Hub Discover. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
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