Clemence Housman

Clemence Annie Housman (23 November 1861 – 6 December 1955) was an author, illustrator and activist in the women's suffrage movement. She was the sister of A. E. Housman and Laurence Housman. Her novels included The Were-Wolf, Unknown Sea and The Life of Sir Aglovale De Galis. She was also a leading figure in the suffragette movement.

Life Clemence was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. She went to the South London School of Technical Art in 1883 where she learned, among other things, wood-engraving. She worked for a time as an engraver for illustrated papers such as The Graphic. She also created designs for publications of the WSPU's Women's Press, ran print making workshops for fellow suffrage campaigners to print literature and organised exhibitions.

In 1910 Houseman became a member of the committee of the Women's Tax Resistance League. She was arrested on 30 September 1911 for non-payment of her taxes. She died in December 1955 aged 94.

Works The Were-wolf by Housman (artwork by Laurence Housman, LH)Clemence published three novels, and she illustrated some of the fantasies written by her brother Laurence. Each of Housman's novels is a "Christian fantasy", dramatising religious themes. Her first novel, The Were-wolf (1896), was an allegorical erotic fantasy featuring a female werewolf. Basil Copper described The Were-wolf as "a minor classic in the genre". The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis is an Arthurian fantasy. Douglas A. Anderson has described The Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis as Housman's "supreme achievement". "The Drawn Arrow" (1923) is a short fable set in a desert kingdom.

Novels – illustrated by Laurence Housman.

As illustrator

Laurence Housman, The Blue Moon (1904) – illustrations by L.H., engraved by C.H.