Frances Cashel Hoey facts for kids

Frances Cashel Hoey (born Frances Sarah Johnston; 14 February 1830 – 8 July 1908) was an Irish writer. She was known for her novels, journalism, and translations. She often used the pen name Cashel Hoey.

Her Early Life and Career

Frances Sarah Johnston was born in Bushy Park, Dublin, Ireland, on 14 February 1830. She was one of eight children. Her parents were Charlotte Jane Shaw and Charles Bolton Johnston. Her father worked as a secretary and registrar.

In 1853, Frances began writing reviews and articles. She wrote about fine art for newspapers like the Freeman's Journal and The Nation. She also wrote for other papers and magazines in Dublin.

Moving to London

On her 16th birthday, in 1846, she married Adam Murray Stewart. They had two daughters together. Sadly, Adam Murray Stewart passed away in 1856.

After her husband's death, Frances moved to London. There, she met famous writer William Makepeace Thackeray. She started writing reviews for the Morning Post and The Spectator. She often visited Paris. In 1871, she was the only passenger on a train from London to Paris. She returned the next day with news about the Paris Commune, a big event in French history.

On 6 February 1858, she married John Cashel Hoey. He was a very religious Roman Catholic, and Frances decided to join his religion. She received a special government payment in 1892. The next year, her second husband passed away.

Frances Cashel Hoey died on 8 July 1908 in Beccles, England, when she was 78 years old. She was buried in the churchyard of a Benedictine church in Little Malvern, England.

Her Published Works

Frances Cashel Hoey was a very busy writer. In 1865, she began writing a story called "Buried in the Deep" for Chambers's Journal. She wrote for this magazine until 1894. She contributed many articles, short stories, and two novels. These novels were A Golden Sorrow (1892) and The Blossoming of an Aloe (1894).

She wrote a total of eleven novels, often about high society. Her first novel, A House of Cards (1868), was very popular. Other successful novels included Falsely True (1870), The Question of Cain (1882), and A Stern Chase (1886). Some of her books were also popular in Canada and the United States.

Other Contributions

Frances Cashel Hoey also worked as a reader for publishing companies. This meant she would read new books and decide if they should be published. She was also the first person to send a "Lady's Letter" to an Australian newspaper. She did this for 20 years!

She was also a talented translator. She translated 27 books from French and Italian into English. Seven of these translations were done with another writer, John Lillie. These translated works included memoirs, travel stories, and novels.