Mary Elizabeth Braddon facts for kids

Mary Elizabeth Braddon, painted in 1865

Mary Elizabeth Braddon (born October 4, 1835 – died February 4, 1915) was a popular English novelist during the Victorian era. She is most famous for her 1862 sensation novel Lady Audley's Secret. This book has also been made into plays and movies many times.

Mary Braddon's Life Story

Mary Elizabeth Braddon was born in Soho, London. She received her education at home. When Mary was five, her mother and father separated. Her brother, Edward Braddon, later became the Premier of Tasmania in Australia.

Mary worked as an actress for three years. She became friends with Clara and Adelaide Biddle. They mostly played small parts. Mary earned enough to support herself and her mother. Adelaide noticed that Mary's interest in acting faded as she started writing books.

Family Life

Mary met John Maxwell (1824–1895) in April 1861. He was a publisher of magazines. Mary moved in with him in 1861. John Maxwell was already married to Mary Ann Crowley. They had five children together.

Mary became a stepmother to his children. In 1874, Maxwell's wife passed away. Mary and John were then able to get married. They had six children: Gerald, Fanny, Francis, William, Winifred Rosalie, and Edward Herry Harrington.

Their oldest daughter, Fanny Margaret Maxwell (1863–1955), married Edmund Selous. She later started a local branch of the Woman's Institute. Their second oldest son was the novelist William Babington Maxwell (1866–1939).

Mary Elizabeth Maxwell's tomb in Richmond Cemetery

Mary Braddon died on February 4, 1915, in Richmond. She is buried in Richmond Cemetery. Her home, Lichfield House, was later replaced by a building called Lichfield Court. A plaque in Richmond parish church remembers her as "Miss Braddon." Some streets nearby are named after characters from her novels. This is because her husband was a property developer in the area.

Mary Braddon's Books and Work

Mary Braddon was a very busy writer. She wrote more than 80 novels. These books had exciting and creative stories.

Famous Novels

Her most famous book is Lady Audley's Secret (1862). This book became a bestseller. It made her well-known and brought her a lot of money. Braddon first published parts of this novel in a magazine. It was then released as a full book. Lady Audley's Secret sold many copies in its first year. It has been in print ever since. It has also been made into plays and movies many times.

Another well-known novel by Braddon is Aurora Floyd (1863). This book also featured a woman in a difficult marriage situation. Both Aurora Floyd and Lady Audley's Secret are sometimes called Braddon's "bigamy novels." Aurora Floyd also first appeared in a magazine before becoming a book.

Some critics mistakenly thought R. D. Blackmore's novel Clara Vaughan (1864) was written by her.

Other Types of Stories

Braddon also wrote stories about the supernatural. These include "The Cold Embrace" and "Eveline's Visitant." Her story Gerard or The World, the Flesh, and the Devil (1891) is about a deal with the devil. These ghost stories were often put into collections later on.

She also wrote historical fiction. In High Places is about the youth of King Charles I. London Pride focuses on King Charles II. Mohawks is set during the time of Queen Anne. Ishmael takes place when Napoleon III came to power.

Publishing Work

Braddon started the magazine Belgravia in 1866. This magazine offered exciting novels in parts, poems, travel stories, and biographies. It also had articles about fashion, history, and science. The magazine included beautiful pictures and was affordable. She also edited another magazine called Temple Bar.

Her Lasting Influence

A critical essay about Braddon's work is in Michael Sadleir's book Things Past (1944). In 2014, the Mary Elizabeth Braddon Association was created. It aims to honor Braddon's life and her writings.

Partial list of fiction

Plays and Films Based on Her Work

Several of Mary Braddon's books have been made into plays and movies. Here are some examples:

• Aurora Floyd, a play by Colin Henry Hazlewood, first performed in London in 1863.
• "The Cold Embrace", a radio play starring Jonathan Firth, on BBC Radio 4 in 2009.
• Lady Audley's Secret, a play by Colin Henry Hazlewood, first performed in London in 1863.
• Lady Audley's Secret, a movie starring Theda Bara, made by Fox Film Corp. in 1915.
• Lady Audley's Secret, a TV show starring Neve McIntosh, Kenneth Cranham, and Steven Mackintosh, shown on PBS Mystery! in 2000.