The Argosy

Overview

The Argosy magazine was a magazine that published “tales, travels, essays, and poems” that ran from December 1865 until September 1901, a total of 75 volumes (North). The magazine was published monthly, and the selling price ranged from six pence to one shilling. The Argosy was first established with Alexander Strahan as publisher in 1865. However, after a serialization of an unsuccessful story that ruined the reputation of the magazine, Strahan sold the magazine to Mrs. Henry Wood in October 1867 (Flowers). From that time on, the editors were Mrs. Henry Wood, which served as the pen name for Ellen Wood, and her son, Charles W. Wood. Most of the material published in The Argosy was written by its editors, with Mrs. Wood providing mystery stories and Charles providing travel pieces.

The Argosy’s essays and fiction were more focused on sensation rather than piety. Though high-brow magazines looked down on The Argosy for how ordinary it was, The Argosy had some advertisements for itself published in some high-brow magazines, including The Academy in 1883 (North). The Argosy was most popular among ladies of the middle class who had a fair amount to no education. The magazine’s popularity was due to its feature stories and its stance as a “strong advocate for women writers” (North). By featuring stories written by women, the magazine helped to contribute to a belief that women could succeed as writers.