Dorothy Margarette Selby Lowndes, writing as Dolf Wyllarde (3 April 1871 - 10 May 1950)[1] was a British journalist and a writer of verse and fiction.

[5] Wyllarde later explained that the novel was inspired by her visit to South Africa in 1889, a trip she took after suffering a breakdown from excessive work.

[9] Her novel Captain Amyas, described as "a strong, masterly piece of fiction",[10] marked her emergence as a force in the literary world.

However, her 1908 novel Rose-White Youth, a love story about a 15-year-old girl, represented a departure from her typically realistic and straightforward style.

[5] She would also sometimes be incorrectly referred to as a male writer,[17] with critics believing she was a man and the press congratulating "Mr Wyllarde" on "his new and instant success".