Mary Stewart (novelist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Stewart
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| Born | Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow 17 September 1916 Sunderland, County Durham, England |
| Died | 9 May 2014 (aged 97) Lochawe, Scotland |
| Pen name | Mary Stewart |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Period | 1954–1997 |
| Genre | Romantic mystery |
| Spouse | |
Mary Stewart, born Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow, was a famous British writer. She lived from 1916 to 2014. Mary Stewart created a special kind of story called "romantic mystery." Her books often had brave, clever heroines. These characters were good at handling tricky and dangerous situations. She also wrote books for children and some poems. Many people know her best for her exciting "Merlin series." These books mix history with fantasy.
Contents
Early Life and School
Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow was born on September 17, 1916. Her birthplace was Sunderland, England. Her mother, Mary Edith Matthews, was a teacher. Her father, Frederick Albert Rainbow, was a vicar.
Mary was a very smart child. At age eight, she went to Eden Hall boarding school. This was in Penrith, Cumbria. She later said she was bullied there. This experience affected her for a long time.
When she was ten, Mary won a scholarship. This allowed her to attend Skellfield School in Ripon, Yorkshire. She was very good at sports there. Mary was offered places at top universities. These included Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham. She chose Durham University because it offered the most money. It also meant less travel for her.
She finished her studies at Durham in 1938. She earned top honors in English. The next year, she got a teaching diploma. In 1941, she earned her master's degree.
Teaching and Writing Beginnings
During World War II, Mary Stewart worked in different teaching jobs. She taught in primary schools. She also taught at a girls' boarding school. For a while, she worked part-time at Durham School.
From 1941 to 1956, she taught English literature. She mostly taught Anglo-Saxon literature. This was at Durham University. In 2009, she received an honorary degree. While at Durham, she met Frederick Stewart. He was a young Scottish geology lecturer. They got married, and she became known as Mary Stewart.
In 1956, Mary and Frederick moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Mary always loved telling stories. She had been writing since she was three years old. After moving to Scotland, she sent a novel to a publisher. Her book, Madam, Will You Talk?, was an instant hit. Many other successful books followed over the years.
Mary Stewart's Books
Mary Stewart wrote many popular books. These included romantic suspense and historical fiction. Critics liked her books a lot. They praised her great storytelling. They also liked her elegant writing style. Her novels are known for their detailed settings. Many are in England. Others are in places like Damascus and the Greek islands. She also wrote about Spain, France, and Austria.
She was most popular from the late 1950s to the 1980s. Many of her novels were translated into other languages. The Moon-Spinners was one of her most famous books. It was even made into a Walt Disney live-action movie.
Mary Stewart was a leading writer of romantic suspense. This style mixes romance with mystery. Her books were seen as better than many others. She expertly blended the two types of stories. She kept a full mystery going. At the same time, she showed how two people fall in love. Solving the mystery often helped the heroine understand the hero. This made her fall in love with him.
In the late 1960s, new readers discovered old legends. Books like The Once and Future King and The Lord of the Rings became popular. This made stories about King Arthur and heroes exciting again. Mary Stewart added to this excitement. She published The Crystal Cave in 1970. This was the first book in her famous Merlin Trilogy. She later wrote two more books in the series. These books put Mary Stewart on the best-seller list many times. This happened throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Personal Life
Mary Rainbow met Frederick Stewart at Durham University. They were both working there. They got married in September 1945. Her father performed the wedding ceremony. They had met at a VE Day dance just one month before. Mary and Frederick did not have children.
In 1956, they moved to Edinburgh. Frederick became a professor of geology there. He later became the head of the Geology Department. In 1974, Mary's husband Frederick was knighted. This meant Mary became Lady Stewart. However, she never used this title. Her husband passed away in 2001.
In her later years, Mary Stewart lived in Edinburgh. She also had a home near Loch Awe. Mary and her husband loved nature. They were both keen gardeners. She also loved her cat, Tory. Tory was a black and white female cat. She lived to be eighteen years old.
Mary Stewart died on May 9, 2014.
Awards and Recognition
Mary Stewart won several awards for her writing. For her fantasy novel The Crystal Cave, she won the Frederick Niven Literary Award. She also won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills. Her children's book, Ludo and the Star Horse, received the Scottish Arts Council Award.
In the mystery genre, she received a Lifetime Achievement award. This was from the Agatha Award committee. Her novels This Rough Magic and Airs Above the Ground were nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. Her book My Brother Michael was nominated for the Gold Dagger Award.
