Mary de Morgan
Encyclopedia
Mary de Morgan was an English writer and the author of three volumes of fairytales: On A Pincushion (1877); The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde (1880); and The Windfairies (1900). These volumes appeared together in the collection The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde – The Complete Fairy Stories of Mary de Morgan, published by Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1963, with an introduction by Roger Lancelyn Green.
Though de Morgan is one of the lesser known authors of literary fairytales, her works, heavily influenced by Hans Christian Andersen
, are remarkable in deviating from the fairytale norm – often not including a happy ending, or not having the protagonist gain wealth or power (rather procuring the wisdom of recognising the value of living without these things); and in the satirical element of political comment in her works. According to the Greenwood encyclopedia of folk tales and fairy tales, the fairytales of Mary de Morgan played a "comprehensive and central role" in her era in the evolution of the literary fairytale.
Her story, The Toy Princess, was featured on the BBC
children's TV show Jackanory
in 1966, and the same story featured on Jackanory Playhouse in 1981.
It has been suggested that her gender plays a part in her relative obscurity, and that she is deserving of far more acclaim.
Her brother, potter, tile designer and novelist William de Morgan
, illustrated her first volume.
, was born in 7 Camden Street, London, on 24 February 1850. In her youth, Mary earned herself a reputation for tactlessness, apparently at one point telling Henry Holiday
, "All artists are fools! Look at yourself and Mr. Solomon!"
Mrs. Poynter, wife of the artist Sir Edward Poynter, wrote in a letter to her sister Alice, "She chattered awfully, and Louie, she is only just fifteen. I believe a judicious course of snubbing would do her good!"
She also apparently said something to offend a young Bernard Shaw
who, according to Lancelyn Green, "hated her exceedingly".
Following her father's death in 1871, she resided with her brother William in his Chelsea house until his marriage in 1887, after which she lived in lodgings, making a living as a typist.
Mostly during her time living with William, Mary told stories to her own nephews and nieces, as well as to the children of friends and family, many among them artists and writers of note. Jenny and May Morris, children of William Morris; a young Rudyard Kipling
and his sister, as well as their cousins, the Burne-Joneses and the Mackails. Angela Thirkell
, nee Mackail, and her brother, Denis Mackail
, both novelists, were treated to the stories of Mary de Morgan in their youth.
William Morris was fond of her stories, and when he was dying in 1896, Mary came to nurse him.
The Windfairies, published in 1900, was her last collection of fairtales.
de Morgan died of phthisis in Cairo
, Egypt
in 1907. She had moved there for the sake of her health, and taken charge of a reform school for girls in Helwan (or Helouan).
. These views are reflected in her fairytales, which often have strong female protagonists (often outwitting or rescuing men), and, in the case of The Toy Princess, have been interpreted as mocking society's expectations of women (though it should be noted that the fictitious kingdom of the story places the same expectations upon its men.)
Renowned socialist William Morris
was a close family friend; indeed, Mary told some of her stories to his children, and it has been suggested that his politics influenced her writings: she ridicules mass-production in Siegfried and Handa and The Bread of Discontent, both of which show beings of evil intent behind a community's turn from well-made, hand-crafted goods to poor-quality mass-produced goods, with disastrous consequences. This has been interpreted as a criticism of capitalism.
de Morgan's stories also often contain the theme of wealth and power being shown to be negative attributes – an attitude which resonates with her remark quoted in Roger Lancelyn Green's introduction to her work: "I am so thankful I have only a small income – it is so delightful planning things and deciding what one can afford. It would bore me to death to be rich!"
in which a broach, a shawl-pin and a pin on a pincushion are telling each other tales to pass the time. This anthropomorphism
of inanimate objects has been likened to the technique used by Hans Christian Andersen
in many of his tales.
The Story of Vain Lamorna; The Seeds of Love; The story of the Opal; Siegfried and Handa; The Hair Tree; The Toy Princess; Through The Fire
Though de Morgan is one of the lesser known authors of literary fairytales, her works, heavily influenced by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, are remarkable in deviating from the fairytale norm – often not including a happy ending, or not having the protagonist gain wealth or power (rather procuring the wisdom of recognising the value of living without these things); and in the satirical element of political comment in her works. According to the Greenwood encyclopedia of folk tales and fairy tales, the fairytales of Mary de Morgan played a "comprehensive and central role" in her era in the evolution of the literary fairytale.
Her story, The Toy Princess, was featured on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's TV show Jackanory
Jackanory
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap o' Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 24 March 1996,...
in 1966, and the same story featured on Jackanory Playhouse in 1981.
It has been suggested that her gender plays a part in her relative obscurity, and that she is deserving of far more acclaim.
Her brother, potter, tile designer and novelist William de Morgan
William De Morgan
William Frend De Morgan was an English potter and tile designer. A lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass and furniture for Morris & Co. from 1863 to 1872. His tiles are often based on medieval designs or Persian patterns, and he experimented with innovative glazes and...
, illustrated her first volume.
Biography
Mary de Morgan, the youngest daughter of distinguished mathematician Augustus de MorganAugustus De Morgan
Augustus De Morgan was a British mathematician and logician. He formulated De Morgan's laws and introduced the term mathematical induction, making its idea rigorous. The crater De Morgan on the Moon is named after him....
, was born in 7 Camden Street, London, on 24 February 1850. In her youth, Mary earned herself a reputation for tactlessness, apparently at one point telling Henry Holiday
Henry Holiday
Henry Holiday was an English historical genre and landscape painter, stained glass designer, illustrator and sculptor. He is considered to be a member of the Pre-Raphaelite school of art.-Early years and training:...
, "All artists are fools! Look at yourself and Mr. Solomon!"
Mrs. Poynter, wife of the artist Sir Edward Poynter, wrote in a letter to her sister Alice, "She chattered awfully, and Louie, she is only just fifteen. I believe a judicious course of snubbing would do her good!"
She also apparently said something to offend a young Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
who, according to Lancelyn Green, "hated her exceedingly".
Following her father's death in 1871, she resided with her brother William in his Chelsea house until his marriage in 1887, after which she lived in lodgings, making a living as a typist.
Mostly during her time living with William, Mary told stories to her own nephews and nieces, as well as to the children of friends and family, many among them artists and writers of note. Jenny and May Morris, children of William Morris; a young Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
and his sister, as well as their cousins, the Burne-Joneses and the Mackails. Angela Thirkell
Angela Thirkell
Angela Margaret Thirkell , was an English and Australian novelist. She also published one novel, Trooper to Southern Cross, under the pseudonym Leslie Parker.-Early life:...
, nee Mackail, and her brother, Denis Mackail
Denis Mackail
Denis George Mackail was an English novelist and short-story writer, publishing between the two world-wars.Although his work is now largely forgotten, 'Greenery Street', a novel of early married life in upper-middle class London, was republished by Persephone Books in 2002.-Biography:He was born...
, both novelists, were treated to the stories of Mary de Morgan in their youth.
William Morris was fond of her stories, and when he was dying in 1896, Mary came to nurse him.
The Windfairies, published in 1900, was her last collection of fairtales.
de Morgan died of phthisis in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1907. She had moved there for the sake of her health, and taken charge of a reform school for girls in Helwan (or Helouan).
Politics
Mary de Morgan was a member of women's suffragist group the Women's Franchise LeagueWomen's Franchise League
The Women's Franchise League was an organisation created by the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst together with her husband Richard in 1889, fourteen years before the creation of the Women's Social and Political Union in 1903....
. These views are reflected in her fairytales, which often have strong female protagonists (often outwitting or rescuing men), and, in the case of The Toy Princess, have been interpreted as mocking society's expectations of women (though it should be noted that the fictitious kingdom of the story places the same expectations upon its men.)
Renowned socialist William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
was a close family friend; indeed, Mary told some of her stories to his children, and it has been suggested that his politics influenced her writings: she ridicules mass-production in Siegfried and Handa and The Bread of Discontent, both of which show beings of evil intent behind a community's turn from well-made, hand-crafted goods to poor-quality mass-produced goods, with disastrous consequences. This has been interpreted as a criticism of capitalism.
de Morgan's stories also often contain the theme of wealth and power being shown to be negative attributes – an attitude which resonates with her remark quoted in Roger Lancelyn Green's introduction to her work: "I am so thankful I have only a small income – it is so delightful planning things and deciding what one can afford. It would bore me to death to be rich!"
On a Pincushion
In the collection On a Pincushion, the first three stories are held within a frame storyFrame story
A frame story is a literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories...
in which a broach, a shawl-pin and a pin on a pincushion are telling each other tales to pass the time. This anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
of inanimate objects has been likened to the technique used by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
in many of his tales.
The Story of Vain Lamorna; The Seeds of Love; The story of the Opal; Siegfried and Handa; The Hair Tree; The Toy Princess; Through The Fire