Mary Cecil Hay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Cecil Hay
|
|
|---|---|
an 1888 translation
|
|
| Born | 10 January 1839 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 24 July 1886 (aged 47) East Preston, Sussex |
| Genre | romantic mystery novels |
Mary Cecil Hay (born January 10, 1839 – died July 24, 1886) was a British writer who wrote many popular novels. Her stories were often published in parts, like a TV series, in magazines and newspapers across the UK, America, and Australia.
Contents
Mary Hay's Early Life and Family Connections
Mary Hay was born in Shrewsbury, England. Her father, Thomas William Hay, was a clockmaker. Mary was one of seven children, with four brothers and two sisters.
Her middle brother, Walter Cecil Hay, became a talented organist and music teacher. He taught famous composers like Edward German. Mary's sister, Susan Elizabeth, was an artist. Mary, Susan, and their other sister, Francis Ann, never married and lived with their mother.
After their father died, Mary's mother took over the clock-making business. Later, the family moved to Chiswick and then to West Sussex. Mary's family connections meant she met many people involved in art and music. She even wrote reviews for art shows like the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
A Memorable Event from Mary's Youth
When Mary was 17, something very sad happened that she likely never forgot. In 1857, her brother Walter organized a summer festival in Shrewsbury. Part of the event involved a temporary bridge built over the River Seven.
As people were leaving, the bridge broke, and ten people drowned. Walter was found not guilty because he had hired a professional to build the bridge. However, too many people were on the bridge, and the crowd was not managed well.
Inspiration from Real Life
Mary often used real-life events or people as inspiration for her stories. For example, in her novel Old Myddelton's Money, she named a bad character Bickerton Slimp. This name came from a trustee in a family legal case who had the unusual middle name Bickerton.
Mary Hay's Writing Career
Mary Hay's novels often followed a similar pattern. They were usually set in places she knew, like Cornwall, or big cities like Birmingham and Liverpool. Her stories often featured a main character from a lower social class who ends up marrying a wealthier, older hero.
There was usually a mystery, like a problem with a will, and sometimes a character would have a strange, early death. Her books often had a moral lesson. Mary's novels were also known for their clever and funny conversations.
Beyond the Usual Stories
Mary Hay didn't just write one type of story. For example, her book Under the Will is a shorter novel, about 21,000 words long. It starts as a romance but turns into an adventure story.
The story begins with Hope Wynne, who grows up with two boys. One of them, Charlie, becomes her fiancé. Charlie and his friend hear about a plan to get rich by working land in Venezuela. They pay for land and leave England, thinking they will make a fortune.
But when they arrive in a faraway part of Venezuela, they find out it was a trick. Many people get sick and die. The two friends eventually escape the wilderness. They discover that Charlie has inherited a lot of money, but he must claim it within a year. The story has a surprising twist where the money is used to rescue others still stuck in Venezuela.
How Mary's Books Were Published
Mary's stories first appeared in magazines like the Family Herald. Sometimes she used pen names like Mark Hardcastle or Sidney Howard. For a while, she used "M. Cecil Hay," which made some people think she was a man!
Many of her works were later published as full books, sometimes in three parts. For example, The Squires Legacy first appeared in 60 parts in a magazine before being published as a book.
Mary Hay's Most Popular Novel
Mary's most famous story was Old Myddelton's Money, first published in 1875. It was so popular that it was still being printed in 1914! The story is about a very rich man, Old Myddelton, who is supposedly murdered by his nephew, Gabriel. Gabriel is found guilty but escapes from prison by dressing as a woman.
This part of the story was inspired by a real event! In 1716, William Maxwell, 5th Earl of Nithsdale, escaped from the Tower of London the night before he was to be executed, also by dressing as a woman.
In the book, Myddelton's money goes to his sister, Lady Lawrence, who has no children. Everyone expects her to leave the money to her relatives. Then, a stranger named Royston Keith arrives and takes an interest in the family's business. A greedy lawyer, who hopes to get some of the money, becomes worried. The stranger and another character, Honor Craven, become close, and all the mysteries are solved in the end.
Mary Hay's Final Years
Mary Hay passed away on July 24, 1886, at a house called Bay Trees in East Preston, West Sussex. She had been writing for about fifteen years and had a long illness before she died. She was buried in Highgate Cemetery in London.
Mary Cecil Hay's Published Works
Mary Hay was a very busy writer, creating many novels, short stories, and poems. Some of her books can be read online through the Internet Archive and HathiTrust’s digital library.
Here is a list of some of her main novels:
- Kate's Engagement 1873
- Hidden Perils 3 vols. 1873 (1 vol. 1875)
- Old Myddelton's Money 3 vols., 1874 (1 vol. 1875)
- Victor and Vanquished 3 vols. 1874 (1 vol. 1875) (originally Rendered a Recompense)
- The Squire's Legacy 3 vols. 1875 (1 vol. 1876)
- Brenda Yorke (previously Known by its Fruit and other Tales), 3 vols. 1875
- Nora's Love Test 3 vols. 1876 (1 vol. 1878)
- The Arundel Motto 1877
- Under the Will, and other Tales 3 vols. 1878
- For her dear Sake 3 vols. 1880
- Missing! and other Tales 3 vols. 1881
- Dorothy's Venture 3 vols. 1882
- Bid me Discourse, and other Tales 3 vols. 1883
- Lester's Secret 3 vols. 1885
- A Wicked Girl 1886
Many of her other works include:
|
A Dark Inheritance |
CO. |
Locked In |
The Arrandel Motto |
