Background
She was born in Misterton, Somerset.
She was born in Misterton, Somerset.
She was educated at a boarding school in Chantry, near Frome in Somerset.
Her first novel, "Comin" thro" the Rye" was published in 1875. lieutenant was partly based on people in her life and on her own early romantic experiences. She also acknowledged Rhoda Broughton as an early influence.
She continued to write until her death.
In her first novel, "Comin" thro" the Rye" she describes some of her experiences at school. In the novel she calls the village Charteris.
Due to a confusion of titles, some sources attribute a number of books by Scottish novelist Anne South. Swan to Mathers. Mathers published a short novel entitled "The Land o" the Leal, by the Author of Comin" Thro" the Rye" in 1878.
Swan published "The Land o" the Leal" (same title, completely different book) using her male pseudonym David Lyall, in 1896.
Conflating the two different novels with the same title has led some people to assume (erroneously) that David Lyall is Mathers"s pseudonym. lieutenant is not.