Julia Kavanagh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julia Kavanagh
Portrait of the author Julia Kavanagh c.1874-1876 by French painter Henri Chanet, fl.1874-1884. Donated by Mrs M. Kavanagh, 1884 to the National Gallery of Ireland.
Born	7 January 1824 Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland
Died	28 October 1877 Nice, France
Nationality	Irish
Family	Morgan and Bridget Kavanagh

Julia Kavanagh (born January 7, 1824 – died October 28, 1877) was an Irish writer. She was born in Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. During her lifetime, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Julia Kavanagh wrote many books and stories. She is known for her novels and tales. She also wrote important non-fiction books. These books looked at how women contributed to society in different ways. Her works were popular and translated into several languages, like French, German, Italian, and Swedish. Her stories were even read in North America. She was also known by famous writers like Charles Dickens.

About Julia Kavanagh's Life

Julia Kavanagh was born in Thurles, a small town in Ireland. She was the only child of Morgan and Bridget Kavanagh. Her father, Morgan Kavanagh, was a writer who focused on languages and poetry.

Before Julia was one year old, her family moved to London. Soon after, they moved to Paris, France. Julia spent many of her early years in Paris. This helped her become very good at French. She also learned a lot about French culture and ways of thinking. She continued to live in France often throughout her life.

Starting Her Writing Career

Julia Kavanagh began her writing career in 1844 when she was 20 years old. At this time, she moved with her mother to France, after her parents separated. From then on, Julia supported herself and her mother through her writing. Her mother, Bridget, was almost blind and stayed with Julia her whole life.

In 1850, Julia met another famous writer, Charlotte Brontë. Charlotte Brontë described Julia as a "little, almost dwarfish figure."

Julia first wrote short essays and stories for magazines and newspapers. Some of the journals she wrote for included Chambers Edinburgh Journal, Household Words, and All the Year Round. As she became more known, she started writing her own books. Her first book was Three Paths (1847), a story for young readers. Her book Madeleine, a Tale of Auvergne (1848) was her first work to become popular. It was a story about kindness and faith.

Later Life and Death

Julia and her mother lived in Paris again in the early 1860s. However, they moved to Rouen and then to Nice when the Franco-Prussian War started.

Julia died in Nice in 1877 after a fall. She was still unmarried and remained a devoted Catholic throughout her life. Her last words were in French: "Oh Mama! how silly I am to have fallen." She is buried with her mother in Nice. Her mother, Bridget, continued to live in Nice until she died in 1888. In 1884, Bridget donated a painting of Julia to the National Gallery of Ireland.

Julia Kavanagh's Books and Stories

Most of Julia Kavanagh's stories take place in France. Her writing style is simple and pleasant. It was often aimed at young women readers. Her main characters were usually strong, independent, and clever women. She was a popular writer and had many loyal readers.

Julia also wrote many articles for magazines and newspapers. She wrote many short biographies of famous people too. Today, experts see that Julia's writing showed a strong awareness of gender issues. Her works often highlighted differences in society for men and women, even while following the rules of her time.

Main Books by Julia Kavanagh

• The Three Paths (1847)
• Madeleine, a Tale of Auvergne (1848)
• Women in France during the Eighteenth Century (1850)
• Nathalie (1851)
• Women of Christianity (1852)
• Daisy Burns (1853)
• Rachel Gray (1855)
• Grace Lee (1855)
• Adele (1857)
• A Summer and Winter in the Two Sicilies (1858)
• Seven Years and Other Tales (1859)
• French Women of Letters (1862)
• English Women of Letters (1862)
• Queen Mab (1863)
• Beatrice (1865)
• Dora (1868)
• Silvia (1870)
• Bessie (1872)
• John Dorrien (1875)
• The Pearl Fountain and Other Fairy Tales (1877)
• Forget-Me-Nots (1878, published after her death)

Articles and Short Stories in Journals

Julia Kavanagh wrote many non-fiction articles for journals. These included:

• 'The Montyon Prizes' in Chambers Miscellany. (1846)
• 'The French Working Classes' in People's Journal. (1846)
• 'Prizes of Virtue in France' in People's Journal. (1846)
• 'Literature of the Working Classes of France' in People's Journal. (1847)

She also contributed many short stories to various journals, such as:

• Chambers Edinburgh Journal (1847)
• Household Words (1850)
• Temple Bar (1868-1869)
• All the Year Round (1868)
• Argosy (1872-1878)
• Littell's Living Age (1870-1876)