Katherine Cecil Thurston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine Cecil Thurston
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| Born | Kathleen Annie Josephine Madden 18 April 1874 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 5 September 1911 (aged 37) Cork, Ireland |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Genre | political thriller |
| Notable works | John Chilcote, M.P. |
| Spouse |
E. Temple Thurston
(m. 1901; div. 1910) |
Katherine Cecil Thurston (born Kathleen Annie Josephine Madden, 18 April 1874 – 5 September 1911) was a famous Irish writer. She was best known for her exciting thriller novels.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Katherine was born Kathleen Annie Josephine Madden in Cork, Ireland. Her father, Paul J. Madden, was a banker. He even served as the Mayor of Cork in 1885–1886. Katherine was the only daughter in her family. She learned at home with private teachers.
Writing Career
Even before the 1900s, Katherine started writing short stories. Her stories appeared in popular magazines. These included Pall Mall Magazine, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, and Harper's Magazine.
In 1901, Katherine married another writer, Ernest Temple Thurston. They later divorced in 1910.
Popular Novels
Katherine Thurston's novels became very successful. They were popular in both Britain and the United States. Her most famous book was a political thriller called John Chilcote, M.P.. In the United States, it was known as The Masquerader.
This book was published in 1904. It stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for two years. It was the third best-selling book in 1904. It was also the seventh best in 1905.
Her next book, The Gambler, came out in 1905. This novel also made the US best-selling lists that year. Katherine was the first author, male or female, to have two books in the top ten in one year.
In 1910, her novel Max was also a bestseller. It was number four on the list. Max tells the story of a young Russian princess. She runs away disguised as a boy. She goes to Paris on the night before her arranged marriage.
Her 1908 novel The Fly on the Wheel is about forbidden love. A writer named Megan Nolan called it a "lost classic of Irish fiction" in 2022.
Book Adaptations
John Chilcote, M.P. was turned into a play for Broadway. It opened in 1917. The story was also made into four movies.
- The first film was a silent film in 1912. It was called The Compact.
- A Russian and French movie was made in 1920. It was titled Chlen parlamenta.
- Two more films used the American book title The Masquerader. One was made in 1922. The other was a "talkie" (a movie with sound) in 1933. It starred Ronald Colman.
Later Life and Legacy
Katherine Thurston had epilepsy. Her promising career ended when she was 37 years old. She was found in her hotel room in Cork. An official investigation in 1911 said she died from a seizure. She was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cork.
