Martha Harley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Harley
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| Pen name | "a young lady"; "by the author of"; "Mrs. Harley"; "Mrs. Hugill" |
| Occupation | novelist |
| Language | English |
| Period | Romantic era |
| Subject | Gothic |
| Years active | 1786—1798 |
 Literature portal |
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Martha Harley was a successful writer from the late 1700s. She wrote six popular books, mostly scary stories called Gothic novels. She also used the name Martha Hugill later in her life. She was active as a writer between 1786 and 1798.
Contents
About Martha Harley's Life
We do not know much about Martha Harley's personal life. We know she wrote several popular novels. She lived in London for at least some time.
Based on when her books were published, her last name was "Harley" at first. She changed it to "Hugill" sometime between 1794 and 1797. This change was probably because she got married.
Martha Harley's Novels
Martha Harley's first novel was called St. Bernard's priory. It came out in 1786. She printed this book herself. It was published without her name on it, and people bought it by signing up beforehand.
Her next five novels were published by professional companies. These books became quite popular. Her second and third novels were also published without her name. They just said "by the author of &".
Later, her fourth and fifth novels, Juliana Ormeston and The prince of Leon, were published under the name "Mrs. Harley." Her last novel, Isidora of Gallicia, was published as "Mrs. Hugill." Isidora of Gallicia was even translated into French.
Two of her novels were published by William Lane. He was a very successful publisher who started the Minerva Press. This company was known for selling many popular books.
Critical Reception of Her Books
When Martha Harley's early novels came out, people generally liked them. Reviewers wrote good things about them. However, it seems that people were less excited about her books later in her career.
In 1986, a writer named Dale Spender wrote a book called Mothers of the Novel. In this book, she listed 106 "lost" women writers. Martha Harley was one of them. These were women writers whose work was important but had been forgotten over time.
List of Her Works
- St. Bernard's priory. An old English tale; being the first literary production of a young lady. London: printed for the authoress, and sold at [William T.] Swift's Circulating Library, Charles-Street, St. James's Square, 1786. A second edition was published in London by William Lane in 1789.
- The castle of Mowbray, an English romance. By the author of St. Bernard's priory. London: C. Stalker, and H. Setchell, 1788. An Irish edition came out in 1789.
- The countess of Hennebon, an historical novel, in three volumes. By the author of the Priory of St. Bernard. London: William Lane, 1789.
- Juliana Ormeston: or, the fraternal victim. By Mrs. Harley, author of the Prince of Leon, St. Bernard's Priory, &c. &c. London: James Barker, 1793; an Irish edition also came out in 1793.
- The prince of Leon. A Spanish romance. In two volumes. By Mrs. Harley. Author of Juliana ormeston, &c. London: James Barker, 1794.
- Isidora of Gallicia: a novel. In two volumes. By Mrs. Hugill, author of Countess of Hennibon, Julia Ormeston, The Prince of Leon, &c. &c. London: Lee and Hurst, 1797.
See also
- List of Minerva Press authors
- Mothers of the Novel: 100 Good Women Writers Before Jane Austen
Online Versions of Her Books
- St. Bernard's priory (1786) (Open access, Internet Archive) (Etext, Google Books)
- The castle of Mowbray (1788) (Etext, Google Books)
