Mary Ella Waller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Ella Waller
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Gate of the Hills, Waller's home in Bethel, Vermont.
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| Born | March 1, 1855 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | June 14, 1938 (aged 83) Wellesley, Massachusetts |
| Pen name | M. E. Waller, Mary E. Waller |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | USA |
Mary Ella Waller (born March 1, 1855 – died June 14, 1938) was an American writer and teacher. She was from New England. Mary wrote stories for children, translated German poems, and published more than twenty novels.
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About Mary Ella Waller
Mary Ella Waller was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1855. Her mother was Mary Doane Hallet from Cape Cod. Her father was David Waller from Vermont.
In 1867, a sad event happened: Mary's father and only brother passed away. This meant Mary, who was just twelve years old, had to leave school. She needed to start working to help support herself. After this, her mother took Mary on a four-year trip around Europe. During this time, Mary became very good at speaking German, French, and Italian.
When they returned, Mary started teaching at a special school in Boston called Mrs. Shaw's school. Later, she moved to New York City to teach at the Brearley School. After that, Mary Waller even started her own school in Chicago. It was called Miss Waller's School for Girls.
Mary Waller's Writing Journey
Mary had to stop teaching because of poor health. So, in 1902, she wrote her first novel, The Little Citizen. She lived in Bethel, Vermont with her mother until 1918. Their historic home was called Gate of the Hills. Many of her novels were written in Vermont and were also set there.
Her first books were the most popular. Books like A Daughter of the Rich (1903), The Wood-Carver of 'Lympus (1904), and Sanna (1905) were printed many times. The Wood-Carver of 'Lympus was a bestseller back then. Another book, Through the Gates of the Netherlands, received great reviews.
Critics said Through the Gates of the Netherlands was a wonderful travel book. It was a mix of a story and a traveler's diary. It shared memories from months spent in Holland and the Netherlands. The author wrote in an interesting and easy way about the people and their traditions. She also wrote about famous buildings, historical places, and especially about Dutch painters and their art. Mary visited many places shown in famous Dutch paintings. The book also had beautiful pictures, mostly copies of famous Dutch artworks.
Mary Waller believed that life was a bit like a competition. She thought that strong and capable people often succeeded. However, she also showed kindness and understanding for people who were struggling in her stories. Even though she kept writing into her older years, her type of stories became less popular after World War One.
Famous Books by Mary Waller
Here are some of Mary Ella Waller's well-known books:
- The Rose-bush of Hildesheim (1889)
- Giotto's Sheep (1889)
- From an Island Outpost
- The Little Citizen (1902)
- Sanna: A Novel
- Out of the Silences
- Through the Gates of the Netherlands (1906)
- The Wood-Carver of 'Lympus (1904)
- A Cry in the Wilderness
- My Ragpicker (1911)
- A daughter of the rich
- Aunt Dorcas's Change of Heart (1913)
- The windmill on the dune (1931)
- Deep in the Hearts of Men. A novel (1924)
- Flamsted Quarries (1910)
- A year out of life
- Our Benny
Besides writing over twenty novels, Mary Waller also invented and patented a foot warmer!
Later Life and Passing
Mary Ella Waller passed away in 1938. She was 83 years old. She died in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
- Read Through the Gates of the Netherlands (1907) at the Internet Archive.
