John and Mary facts for kids
John and Mary are the main characters in a series of children's books. These books were written by Grace James. The series began in the 1930s and continued until the 1960s. The stories are known for their realistic adventures. They are similar to other famous children's books by authors like E. Nesbit and Arthur Ransome.
Contents
Adventures of John and Mary
The stories mostly take place in the Berkshire countryside in England. John and Mary live at a farmhouse called Smockfarthing. This farm is home to their grandmother, Mrs. Hawthorne, who is from Scotland. Near the farm is a made-up village called Smockfarthing Wick. This village is close to a town called Riverton.
While the names are invented, they are based on real places. Smockfarthing is like a real house called Stonehill House. Riverton is similar to the town of Abingdon.
Who Lives at Smockfarthing?
John and Mary live at the farm with their Aunt 'Push' and their grandmother. These characters are based on real people. 'Push' is Grace James herself. 'Mrs. Hawthorne' is Grace James's mother. John and Mary are based on Grace James's real nephew and niece, Giovanni and Maria.
John and Mary's parents live in Rome, Italy. Their father is Italian and works there. His job involves a lot of travel to different places. He is married to John and Mary's mother, who is Aunt Push's sister.
John and Mary's Education and Home Life
John and Mary are taught at home by a governess named Miss Rose Brown. They spend about half their time in Rome, so they speak both English and Italian fluently.
The Smockfarthing farm has many helpers. Mrs. Dyer is the cook, and Ellen is the parlourmaid. Lizzie, whom the children call Lisetta, is another maid. Edie Kittiwake is the nurse. Edie's father, Mr. Kittiwake, and his son Reggie help run the farm. They live in a house on the farm called the Round House. Other people like schoolteachers and postmistresses also appear in the books.
Timeless Adventures
The series covers about thirty years, but John and Mary stay young. They only grow from about four to twelve years old. Their surroundings also do not change much. This means the books mention things from different eras. For example, the war and rationing are discussed in the 1940s. Television and washing machines are mentioned in the 1960s.
The John and Mary stories show the children doing everyday things in the countryside. Grace James makes sure they meet interesting people and have adventures. The stories feel real, and the adventures are the kind any child could have.
About the Books
The books were published by Frederick Muller. The lovely pictures in the books were drawn by Mary Gardiner.
Grace James's Other Writings
One book, John and Mary's Aunt, is not about John and Mary at all. It is about Grace James's own childhood. She grew up in Japan. We learn that she was born in Tokyo and lived there until she was about twelve. Her father was part of a naval mission there. This fits with the 'Douglas Mission' to Japan, which started in 1873.
Other Books by Grace James
Grace James wrote other books besides the John and Mary series:
- Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales (1910) - illustrated by Warwick Goble
- Japan Recollections and Impressions (1936)
- The Blakes and the Blacketts (1939)
- Nibs (1951)
- Nibs and the New World (1953)
- Sweetings (1957)
List of John and Mary Titles
- John and Mary (1935)
- More about John and Mary (1936)
- John and Mary Abroad (1937)
- John and Mary Detectives (1938)
- John and Mary's Secret Society (1939)
- John and Mary's Visitors (1940)
- New Friends for John and Mary (1941)
- John and Mary and Miss Rose Brown (1942)
- John and Mary at School (1944)
- John and Mary's Youth Club (1945)
- John and Mary at Riverton (1946)
- The Adventures of John and Mary (1947)
- John and Mary's Aunt (1950)
- John and Mary in Rome (1954)
- John and Mary's Fairy Tales (1955)
- John and Mary by Land and Sea (1955)
- John and Mary's Japanese Fairy Tales (1957)
- John and Mary and Lisetta (1958)
- John and Mary's Treasures (1960)
- John and Mary Revisit Rome (1963)
