Charlotte Mary Yonge was a prolific English novelist in the 19th century. Yonge was born to a Christian family and her values played a strong role in her writings. Yonge's books earned much praise during her lifetime including from other esteemed authors such as George Eliot, Lewis Carroll, and Anthony Trollope.

The Little Duke, published in 1854, is one of Yonge's most popular novels. The action centers around a young boy who must learn tough life lessons after becoming duke at an early age. The action is set in Normandy before the time of William the Conqueror.