Amanda McKittrick Ros facts for kids

Anna Margaret Ross (born McKittrick; December 8, 1860 – February 2, 1939) was an Irish writer. She is better known by her pen-name, Amanda McKittrick Ros. She published her first novel, Irene Iddesleigh, in 1897. She also wrote many poems and other novels. Her books were not widely read. Some critics even said her unique and very descriptive writing style was some of the most unusual writing ever.

Life Story of Amanda McKittrick Ros

Anna Margaret McKittrick was born in Drumaness, County Down, Ireland, on December 8, 1860. She was the fourth child of Eliza Black and Edward Amlave McKittrick. Her father was the head teacher at Drumaness High School.

In the 1880s, she studied at Marlborough Teacher Training College in Dublin. After her training, she became a qualified teacher at Millbrook National School in Larne, County Antrim.

During her first visit to Larne, she met Andrew Ross. He was a station master and 35 years old. They got married on August 30, 1887.

Her husband paid to publish her first novel, Irene Iddesleigh. This was a gift for their tenth wedding anniversary. This is how her writing career began. She went on to write three novels and many poems. Andrew Ross passed away in 1917. In 1922, Amanda married Thomas Rodgers, a farmer.

Amanda McKittrick Ros died in Belfast on February 2, 1939.

Her Unique Writing Style

Amanda McKittrick Ros wrote under her pen-name. She might have chosen this name to sound like the noble de Ros family from County Down. She believed her writing was very special. She once wrote that her main goal was to write in a style "all my own." She thought many people "thirsted" for her words. She even predicted that people would still talk about her writing in a thousand years!

Some famous people, like Aldous Huxley, Siegfried Sassoon, C. S. Lewis, and Mark Twain, were "admirers" of her work. Her novel Irene Iddesleigh came out in 1897. Mark Twain thought Irene was one of the funniest novels ever, even though it wasn't meant to be funny.

A writer named Barry Pain reviewed Irene in 1898. He called it "a thing that happens once in a million years." He also jokingly called it "the book of the century." He said he was entertained at first, but then felt "tears and terror." Amanda McKittrick Ros did not like his review. She called him a "clay crab of corruption." She even wrote a long introduction to her next novel, Delina Delaney, just to criticize him! She said he was only mean because he secretly loved her. However, Ros claimed she made enough money from Delina Delaney to build a house, which she named Iddesleigh.

In her last novel, Helen Huddleson, all the characters have names like fruits. For example, there's Lord Raspberry, Cherry Raspberry, Sir Peter Plum, and the Earl of Grape.

Her Lasting Impact

Belfast Public Libraries have a large collection of her original writings and printed books. This includes Irene Iddesleigh and her poetry books, Fumes of Formation and Poems of Puncture. The collection also has hundreds of letters sent to her.

A few fans have helped keep her memory alive. A book about her life, O Rare Amanda!, was published in 1954. A collection of her most memorable writings came out in 1988. In 2007, a festival in Belfast celebrated her life and works.

An Irish writer named Denis Johnston wrote a radio play about Amanda McKittrick Ros. It was broadcast in 1943. You can find some of her unfinished writings in the Denis Johnston collection at the library of the Ulster University at Coleraine.

What People Thought of Her Writing

Nick Page, who wrote a book about "the World's Worst Writers," said Amanda McKittrick Ros was the "worst of the worst." He pointed out how she used unusual phrases. For example, she called eyes "piercing orbs" and legs "bony supports."

Jack Loudan said that Amanda's writing was a great way to test someone's sense of humor. He believed that quick-witted people would enjoy her work, while dull people would not.

The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature described her writing as "uniquely dreadful."

Her Novels and Famous Readers

A group of writers at Oxford, called the Inklings, included C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. They used to have competitions to see who could read Amanda McKittrick Ros's work aloud the longest without laughing!

Her Poetry

Besides novels, Amanda McKittrick Ros also wrote poetry. Her poetry books include Poems of Puncture and Fumes of Formation. One of her poems, "Visiting Westminster Abbey," starts like this:

Holy Moses! Take a look!
Flesh decayed in every nook!
Some rare bits of brain lie here,
Mortal loads of beef and beer.

Where to Find Her Books Today

As of 2013, only Irene Iddesleigh is easy to find in a modern printed version. Her other books are rare. First editions can be quite expensive. Belfast Central Library has an archive of her papers.

In 2006, a librarian named Elspeth Legg held a big event celebrating Amanda's works. During this event, 65 people read the entire book Fumes of Formation aloud!

See Also

• List of Northern Irish writers
• Robert Coates
• The Eye of Argon
• Edward Bulwer-Lytton
• William McGonagall
• James McIntyre
• Julia A. Moore
• List of the Lost
• My Immortal