Mary Lavin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Lavin
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| Born | 10 June 1912 Walpole, Massachusetts |
| Died | 25 March 1996 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Irish, American |
| Education | Loreto College |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Genre | Short story; novel |
| Notable awards | James Tait Black Memorial Prize Saoi of Aosdána, 1993 |
| Spouse | William Walsh; Michael Scott |
Mary Lavin (born June 10, 1912 – died March 25, 1996) was a famous writer. She wrote many short stories and novels. Mary was an Irish woman who is seen as a leader in writing for and about women.
A well-known Irish writer, Lord Dunsany, helped Mary with her writing. Her father asked him to read some of her stories. Lord Dunsany was very impressed and became her writing teacher and guide. Mary often wrote about things important to women. She also wrote about her strong Catholic faith. She is especially known for her stories about women who had lost their husbands.
Early Life and Writing Career
Mary Lavin was born in East Walpole, Massachusetts, in 1912. She was the only child of Tom and Nora Lavin. Her parents were Irish immigrants who had moved to America. Mary went to primary school in East Walpole until she was nine years old.
At that time, her mother decided to move back to Ireland. Mary and Nora first lived with Nora's family in Athenry, County Galway. Later, they bought a house in Dublin. Mary's father also came back from America to join them.
Mary went to Loreto College, a special school run by nuns in Dublin. After that, she studied English and French at University College Dublin (UCD). For a short time, she taught French at Loreto College. While she was studying for an advanced degree, she published her first short story. It was called "Miss Holland" and appeared in the Dublin Magazine in 1938.
Mary's father, Tom Lavin, then spoke to Lord Dunsany. He was a famous Irish writer. Tom asked him to read some of Mary's stories that had not been published yet. Lord Dunsany was very impressed. He became Mary's mentor, helping her with her writing.
In 1943, Mary published her first book. It was called Tales from Bective Bridge. This book had ten short stories about life in the Irish countryside. It was a big success and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. In the same year, Mary married William Walsh, a lawyer from Dublin.
Over the next ten years, Mary and William had three daughters. They bought a farm called "abbey farm" in County Meath. This farm included land around Bective Abbey. Marys writing career grew during this time. She published several novels and collections of short stories. Her first novel, The House in Clewe Street, was first printed in parts in The Atlantic magazine. It was then published as a book in 1945.
Later Life and Achievements
In 1954, Mary's husband, William Walsh, passed away. Mary was already a well-known writer. She had to take care of her three daughters and keep the family farm going by herself. Even with these challenges, she continued her writing career. She kept publishing short stories and won several awards for her work.
These awards included the Katherine Mansfield Prize in 1961. She also received Guggenheim Fellowships in 1959 and 1961. In 1968, UCD gave her an honorary doctorate, which is a special university degree. Some of her best stories from this time were about women who had lost their husbands.
Mary Lavin married again in 1969. Her second husband was Michael Scott. He was an old friend from her student days at University College. Michael had been living abroad, but he returned to Ireland. They stayed together until Michael passed away in 1991.
In 1992, Mary Lavin was chosen as a Saoi by the members of Aosdána. Aosdána is a group of creative artists in Ireland. The title of Saoi is one of the highest honors for Irish culture. It is given for "singular and sustained distinction" in literature. This means she was recognized for her amazing and long-lasting achievements in writing.
Mary Lavin's granddaughter, Kathleen MacMahon, is also a novelist. In March 2021, a public square in Dublin was named Mary Lavin Place. It was near where she lived for many years. This was the first time an Irish woman writer was honored in this way.
See also
- List of women writers
