Edna Lyall wrote 18 novels, the first, Won by waiting, being published in 1879 to little success. The name Edan Lyall is apparently derived from transposing letters from Ada Ellen Bayly. Her second novel, Donovan (1882) reveals the author's Unitarian upbringing in its treatment of religious tolerance and politics. Gladstone thought sufficiently highly of the work to write to its author to commend it as "a very delicate and refined work of art". It was followed by a sequel, We two (1884), which tells of a politician who refuses to swear on oath in order to take up his seat at the House of Commons. This was her first great success and is based on the real-life figure of Charles Bradlaugh who was elected as MP for Northampton in 1880 but did not affirm his allegiance until six years later.