Mary Webb

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Mary Webb

Name	Mary Webb
Birth name
Birth date	25 March 1881
Birth place	Leighton, Shropshire, England
Death date	8 October 1927
Death place	St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England
Alma mater
Occupation	Novelist, poet
Years active
Organization
Known for
Notable works	Precious Bane, Gone to Earth
Spouse(s)
Website

Mary Webb (25 March 1881 – 8 October 1927) was an English novelist and poet whose works are set chiefly in her native Shropshire. Her writing is characterized by a deep connection to the natural world and a profound exploration of human emotions and relationships.

Early Life

Mary Webb was born Mary Gladys Meredith in the village of Leighton, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. She was the eldest of six children in a family with a strong literary and artistic background. Her father, George Edward Meredith, was a schoolteacher and a keen naturalist, which greatly influenced Mary's appreciation for nature.

At the age of 20, Mary developed symptoms of Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder that affected her health throughout her life. Despite her illness, she pursued her passion for writing and began to publish poetry and prose.

Literary Career

Mary Webb's first novel, The Golden Arrow, was published in 1916. It was followed by Gone to Earth (1917), The House in Dormer Forest (1920), Seven for a Secret (1922), and her most famous work, Precious Bane (1924). Her novels often feature strong, independent female protagonists and are set against the backdrop of the Shropshire countryside.

Precious Bane won the Prix Femina Vie Heureuse in 1926, bringing Webb some recognition during her lifetime. However, her works did not achieve widespread popularity until after her death, when they were championed by Stanley Baldwin, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Themes and Style

Webb's writing is noted for its lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of nature. Her works often explore themes of love, loss, and the struggle between good and evil. She had a keen interest in folklore and the supernatural, which is reflected in the mystical elements present in her stories.

Personal Life

In 1912, Mary married Henry Bertram Law Webb, a teacher and fellow writer. The couple lived in various locations in Shropshire and later moved to London. Their marriage was strained by financial difficulties and Mary's ongoing health issues.

Mary Webb died at the age of 46 in St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. She was buried in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Legacy

Mary Webb's work has been adapted for film and television, most notably Gone to Earth, which was adapted into a film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger in 1950. Her novels continue to be appreciated for their rich portrayal of rural life and their emotional depth.

Also see

• Graves' disease
• Prix Femina Vie Heureuse
• Stanley Baldwin
• Michael Powell
• Emeric Pressburger