Matilda Betham-Edwards (1836–1919) was a novelist, travel writer and francophile. She was also a prolific poet and wrote several children's books. Born in Suffolk, she was the daughter of a clergyman. She corresponded with well-known English male poets of the day. Her interests ranged widely but a major commitment of her life and work was to France and the French. Of Huguenot descent, she considered France her second native land and made it her mission to bring about better understanding and sympathy between the two countries which shared her allegiance. The French government made her an Officier de l’Instruction Publique de France in recognition of her untiring efforts towards the establishment of a genuine and lasting entente cordiale. She was awarded a medal at the Anglo-French Exhibition of 1908. She is often cited in anthologies of historic lesbian poetry, but there is no strong evidence that she had lesbian tendencies. She died in Hastings, Sussex in 1919. She is sometimes confused with the poet Matilda Betham (1776–1852), who wrote the 'Lay of Marie' concerning Marie de France in 1816. Professor Joan Rees has written the only biography of Matilda Betham-Edwards, in 2006 (see below for further details).