This book presents a well-written and scholarly account of Charlotte Mason and her world, placing her firmly in the great tradition of Quaker thinkers, and tracing her development as an educationalist and the influences upon her. The importance of her Quaker background, which has never been explored before, sheds new light on the formation of her educational principles, which are still practised in our schools today. Heather Eggins, Visiting Professor of Education, University of Sussex It is to Margaret Coombs' great credit that she has woven an excellent, imaginative and fascinating story of the well-known educator. Miriam David, Professor Emerita of Sociology of Education, UCL Institute of Education "The story of Charlotte Mason, long seen through the lens of Essex Cholmondeley and her predominantly mythical panegyric, has now reached a higher form of clarity, historical rigour, and accuracy through this new work by Margaret Coombs. Archival work can be frustrating, time-consuming, and yet rewarding. Here we find one such productive example. In these pages, the early life and educational philosophy of Mason come to life in an engaging and well-researched narrative that helps dispel the romanticised and inauthentic picture that has been perpetuated in current circles. Critical readers will find much here to ponder as the historical veil that has long obfuscated Mason's life becomes more transparent." -Dr Jack Edward Beckman, Professor of Education, Covenant College "... I always felt that the real Charlotte Mason was an enigma. What explains her innovative ideas and her determined, charismatic personality? This scholarly and engaging book provides definitive answers and reveals the origins of Charlotte Mason's passion for social justice. ... all readers of this book will have a more complete understanding of this amazing person, of her considerable achievements and continuing importance." -Dr Hilary Cooper, Emeritus Professor of History and Pedagogy, University of Cumbria "This much needed book answers long standing questions about the family background and influences on Charlotte Mason. Margaret Coombs' meticulous research reveals the hitherto unexplored and unexplained early family life of an often overlooked educator. Charlotte Mason always thought that her work would 'speak for her' but Coombs's detailed scholarship helps the reader to understand the origin of an educational philosophy that spread across the world and across social classes. It is an important addition to the currently available secondary material on an enigmatic woman." -Stephanie Spencer, Head of Department of Education Studies, University of Winchester "Margaret Coombs has shown herself a tenacious researcher, tirelessly digging into the life of Charlotte Mason. Her discoveries will surely generate fresh discussions on Mason's life and work, helping us in the twenty-first century to probe further into the life and work of this remarkable educator." -J. Carroll Smith, Director of the Charlotte Mason Institute "Margaret Coombs has accomplished impressive archival research in tracking down traces of the illusive Charlotte Mason. Because of this work, it is possible to better understand where Mason came from and how her background influenced her choices later in life." -Rachel Neiwert, Assistant Professor of History, Geography and Political Science, St Catherine University, Minneapolis "It is a wonderful and very welcome addition to Mason scholarship, densely researched and impressive in its range of references, there are some exciting discoveries here about Mason's family background which greatly add to our understanding of her personality and life story. It provides an excellent insight into the remarkable life and achievements of an extraordinary individual, whilst also helping us to understand the constraints experienced by all women in Victorian society, as well as the new opportunities available to the more resourceful of them." -Christina de Bellaigue, Associate Professor, Jackson Fellow and Tutor in Modern History, Exeter College, Oxford "Margaret Coombs's diligent research over many years has revealed much that was hitherto unknown about the life of one of the prominent educationists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This lively biography reveals how much of Charlotte Mason's beliefs and attitudes were influenced by her family background and, because the book does not finish with Miss Mason's demise in 1923, shows that her theories and method are still in use today. Past students of Charlotte Mason, former pupils of PUS schools and home schools, as well as anyone with an interest in the development of education, will find Margaret Coombs's book an eminently readable insight into the educational and social life of the late Victorian and Edwardian period." -Caroline Heal, Editor of L'Umile Pianta, 2002-2014 "A new biography of Charlotte Mason, founder of