Bertha Vyver facts for kids
Bertha Vyver (born June 11, 1854 – died November 20, 1941) was a special friend and helper to famous Scottish poet Charles Mackay and later to the well-known writer Marie Corelli. Bertha took care of Mackay from 1875 until he passed away in 1889. After that, she also looked after her own mother. Once her caretaking duties were done, Bertha stayed with Marie Corelli. She helped and encouraged Marie with her writing career. When Marie Corelli died, Bertha was put in charge of all her writings and even wrote a book about Marie's life.
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Bertha's Early Life
Bertha Amelia Adriana Francisca van der Vyver was born on June 11, 1854. She was one of three daughters. Her father, Alphonso Peter Francisco Adrian van der Vyver, was Dutch, and her mother, Pauline Maria Josephine Francisca, was French. They got married in Jersey in 1850 and soon moved to England.
The family settled in Lambeth, where Bertha and her sisters were born. Bertha's father was not very good at business and often struggled with money. He even pretended to be a "Count" and called his wife a "Countess," though these titles were not real.
In 1859, Bertha's mother moved to Glasgow with the children. Later, she and Bertha's father lived separately. Bertha's mother then returned to London with her daughters. They lived near Minnie Mackay, who would become Bertha's lifelong friend. Minnie Mackay later became famous as the writer Marie Corelli. Bertha and Minnie went to a convent school together in Paris during the 1860s.
Bertha's Career and Friendship
In 1875, Marie Corelli's mother became very ill. Bertha's mother suggested that Bertha help care for the Mackay household. So, Bertha moved in with them. Money was tight, as Charles Mackay's small pension and Bertha's income were the only earnings.
As Mackay's health got worse, they had to move closer to doctors. They moved to Kensington in 1883. Mackay became partly paralyzed after a serious stroke, and Bertha rarely left his side. Besides caring for him, Bertha also enjoyed photography and became quite skilled at it. Around this time, Minnie Mackay decided to change her name to Marie Corelli to help her writing career.
Life with Marie Corelli
When Charles Mackay died in 1889, Bertha and Marie Corelli traveled to Eastbourne for a short break. Soon after they returned, Marie's mother, whom Marie thought of as a second mother, also became very ill. Bertha and Marie stayed with her until she passed away.
From then on, Bertha was free to travel with Marie Corelli and support her writing. Bertha and Marie were close companions and lived together for almost forty years. In 1901, they moved into a house in Stratford-upon-Avon called Mason Croft. This house is now owned by the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham.
Marie Corelli dedicated several of her books to Bertha. They lived together until Marie died in 1924. In her will, Marie left everything she owned to Bertha. Their strong friendship was well-known. After Marie's death, a writer named Sidney Walton described their bond, saying their hearts and minds were "knit together." He noted that their initials, M. C. and B. V., were carved together as a symbol of their life-long friendship.
Bertha's Final Years
Bertha continued to live at Mason Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon, keeping the house as if Marie Corelli were still there. As the person in charge of Marie's writings, Bertha published Marie's book Open Confession the year after Marie died. Bertha also wrote her own book, "Memoirs of Marie Corelli," which came out in 1930.
As she grew older and her health declined, Bertha found it hard to manage the money Marie had left for the estate. However, she was determined to keep everything together, just as Marie had wished. Bertha Vyver passed away on November 20, 1941. Bertha and Marie Corelli are buried together in the Evesham Road cemetery in Stratford-upon-Avon.
