Adela Orpen facts for kids

Adela Elizabeth Orpen (née Richards; 3 February 1855 – 17 February 1927) was an Irish writer. She lived an exciting life, moving from a farm in America to a grand house in Ireland. Adela became known for her books and articles.

Adela's Early Life in America

Adela Elizabeth Richards was born on February 3, 1855, in Virginia, United States. She was the only child of Edward Moore Richards and Sarah Elizabeth.

When Adela was young, her mother and two siblings passed away. In 1862, Adela and her father moved to Kansas. Her father did not support slavery, and Kansas had just joined the United States as a free state. He also bought land near a new train route, hoping it would be a good investment.

Life on the Frontier

In Kansas, Adela, her father, and her guardian, Adelia Sarah Gates, lived a simple life on the American frontier. They built a small wooden house and took care of horses and cattle.

During the American Civil War, Adela's father fought for the Union side. Adela, still a child, took on many responsibilities for their land. She even made plans for them to leave if the opposing army came close. This isolated childhood, where she had to be very strong and independent, greatly shaped her life. It also made her relationship with her father very close.

Moving to Ireland

In 1867, Adela moved to Ireland. This happened because her father inherited his family's estate, called Grange, in Killanne, County Wexford. His older brother had passed away, and their grandmother still lived there.

Adela and her father were again joined by Adelia Gates, whom Adela called "Mamma." Adela spent the rest of her youth at Grange Demesne, which her father later renamed Monksgrange House.

A New Life in Ireland

Life in Ireland was more traditional than her adventurous childhood in America. However, her father still had unique ideas. He supported women's rights and even campaigned for women to wear more comfortable clothes. This created an inspiring environment for Adela to grow up in.

In the 1870s, a period called the Land War began in Ireland. This caused big changes for Adela and her family, both financially and politically. They changed their political views from supporting Irish independence to supporting the British Conservative party.

Marriage to Goddard Henry Orpen

Financial problems from the Land War delayed Adela's marriage to her cousin, Goddard Henry Orpen. Her father also worried that Goddard, who was just starting his career as a lawyer in London, did not have enough money.

However, Adela and Goddard eventually married on August 18, 1880, in Dublin. Her husband later said their marriage was "a perfect union."

Adela's Writing Career

After marrying, the Orpens moved to Bedford Park, a new suburb in London. They had two children: Lilian Iris, born in 1883, and Edward Richards, born in 1884.

During this time, Adela became a successful writer. She wrote essays and novels starting in 1886. Her articles appeared in magazines in London and New York. She also wrote three novels:

• Corrageen in '98: a story of the Irish rebellion (1898)
• Perfection city (1897)
• The jay-hawkers: a story of free soil and border ruffian days (1900)

Her most well-known books were non-fiction, meaning they were based on real events. These included:

• The chronicles of the Sid; or, The life and travels of Adelia Gates (1893), which was about her guardian.
• Memories of the old emigrant days in Kansas, 1862–1865 (1926), which was about her own childhood.

Adela stopped writing in 1900, at the height of her career. Her father gave her the Monksgrange estate, and she decided to focus completely on managing it. She moved there with her husband, who had also stopped his law career to become a historian.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1923, during the Irish Civil War, the house at Monksgrange was raided by republicans. Adela was almost shot but managed to avoid it with a quick remark.

Towards the end of her life, Adela was disappointed with how Ireland's politics had changed. She felt that England had let Ireland down. Like her father, Adela was skeptical of religion. In the 1911 census, she was listed as agnostic, meaning she believed it was impossible to know if God exists.

Adela Orpen passed away on February 17, 1927, at Monksgrange. She is buried at St Anne's churchyard in Killann. Monksgrange House still has a large collection of her books and original writings.