Mary Latter facts for kids
Mary Latter (born 1725, died 28 March 1777) was an English writer from the 1700s. She wrote poems, essays, and plays.
About Mary Latter
Mary Latter was born in 1725 in Henley-on-Thames, England. Her father was a lawyer in the countryside. Later, she moved to Reading, Berkshire, where her mother, who was a hat maker, passed away in 1748.
Mary didn't have much money. She loved writing clever and funny poems that sometimes made fun of things. People even compared her writing to that of a famous writer named Jonathan Swift.
Early Writings
One of her first attempts at writing was a poem that described different ladies in Reading. She later decided she didn't want to be known for it. So, she put a rhyming advertisement in a newspaper called the Reading Mercury in 1740 to say she didn't support it anymore.
In 1759, Mary published a book called The Miscellaneous Works, in Prose and Verse, of Mrs. Mary Latter. She sold this book by "subscription," which meant people paid for it in advance to help her publish it. The book had three parts: letters, poems, and thoughtful writings. It also included a piece called A Retrospective View of Indigence, or the Danger of Spiritual Poverty. This part talked about being poor in spirit.
She also added a short section about being poor in real life. She described herself as living near the market, busy with work and in debt. She sometimes hoped to earn enough money but also worried about serious financial trouble. She dedicated this book to Mrs. Loveday, whose husband, John Loveday, was a historian from Caversham.
Her Play and Later Life
In 1763, Mary published a sad play called The Siege of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian. Before the play, she included an essay about the secrets and problems of putting on a play.
A theater owner named John Rich, who owned the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, had accepted her play. He even invited Mary to stay at his house. He wanted her to visit the theater often so she could learn more about how plays were made.
Sadly, John Rich died before her play could be performed in London. However, it was later put on stage in Reading in 1768. The play was not very successful there.
Mary Latter passed away in Reading on 28 March 1777. She was buried in the churchyard of St. Lawrence in the town. People remember her for how she kept writing, even when she faced money problems.
Other Works
Besides the works mentioned above, Mary Latter also wrote:
- A Miscellaneous Poetical Essay in three parts, published in 1761.
- A Lyric Ode on the Birth of the Prince of Wales, published in 1763. An ode is a type of poem, often praising something.
- Liberty and Interest: a Burlesque Poem on the Present Times, published in London in 1764. A burlesque poem is a funny, often exaggerated, take on a serious topic.
- Pro and Con, or the Opinionists, an ancient fragment, published in 1771.
