Ward, Mrs. Humphry

Ward, Mrs. Humphry

▪ British writer
née  Mary Augusta Arnold 
born June 11, 1851, Tasmania
died March 24, 1920, London

      English novelist whose best-known work, Robert Elsmere, created a sensation in its day by advocating a Christianity based on social concern (Christian Socialism) rather than theology.

      The daughter of a brother of the poet Matthew Arnold, she grew up in an atmosphere of religious searching. Her father resigned his position as a school official in Australia to become a Roman Catholic but later returned temporarily to the Anglican Church and settled the family at Oxford. In 1872 she married Humphry Ward, a fellow of Brasenose College. In 1881 they moved to London, where she wrote for the Pall Mall Gazette and other periodicals.

      Mary Augusta Ward's rejection of a supernaturally oriented Christianity in favour of a strong social commitment found eloquent expression in her novel Robert Elsmere (1888), the story of a young Anglican clergyman's conversion to the belief that “Religion consists alone in the service of the people.” The popularity of this controversial work was only increased by William Gladstone's polemical reply, “Robert Elsmere and the Battle of Belief” (1888). Ward followed its success with more than 20 other novels, notably David Grieve (1892), Sir George Tressady (1896), and Helbeck of Bannisdale (1898). By the turn of the century she had become firmly established as a best-selling author.

      Ward worked tirelessly for social improvement; she was responsible for the foundation of the Invalid Children's School (1899) and for the establishment of evening play centres by the London County Council in 1905. She opposed the Women's Suffrage Movement, however, fearing in emancipation a loss of women's moral influence. In 1908 she founded the Anti-Suffrage League. Her autobiography, A Writer's Recollections, was published in 1918.

Additional Reading
John Sutherland, Mrs. Humphry Ward: Eminent Victorian, Pre-eminent Edwardian (1990).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • WARD, MRS. HUMPHRY —    English authoress, born at Hobart Town; is a niece of Matthew Arnold; translated Amiel s Journal, a suggestive record, but is best known by her romance of Robert Elsmere, published in 1888, a work which was a help to some weak people and an… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Mrs. Humphry Ward — Mrs. Humphry Ward. Árbol genealógico de los Arnold y Hux …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ward,Mary Augusta Arnold — Ward, Mary Augusta Arnold. Known as Mrs. Humphry Ward. 1851 1920. British writer whose novels include Robert Elsmere (1888). * * * …   Universalium

  • Ward — [wôrd] 1. Artemus [ärt′ə məs] (pseud. of Charles Farrar Browne) 1834 67; U.S. humorist 2. Mrs. Humphry (born Mary Augusta Arnold) 1851 1920; Brit. novelist, born in Tasmania …   English World dictionary

  • ward — wạrd 〈veraltet〉 = wurde * * * wạrd: ↑ 1werden. * * * Ward   [wɔːd],    1) Sir (seit 1913) Adolphus William, britischer Historiker, Sprach und Literaturwissenschaftler, * Hampstead (heute zu London) 2. 12. 1837, ✝ Cambridge 19. 6. 1924; ab 1866… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Ward (surname) — Family name name = Ward imagesize= caption= pronunciation = meaning = region =England, Ireland origin =Old English, Old Gallic related names = footnotes = Ward is a popular Old English origin and Old Gaelic origin surname dating to the pre Norman …   Wikipedia

  • Ward — /wawrd/, n. 1. (Aaron) Montgomery, 1843 1913, U.S. merchant and mail order retailer. 2. Artemas /ahr teuh meuhs/, 1727 1800, American general in the American Revolution. 3. Artemus /ahr teuh meuhs/, (Charles Farrar Browne), 1834 67, U.S. humorist …   Universalium

  • Ward — I. biographical name (Aaron) Montgomery 1843 1913 American merchant II. biographical name Artemas 1727 1800 American general in Revolution III. biographical name Artemus see Charles Farrar Browne IV. biographical name Barbara 1914 1981 Baroness… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ward — [[t]wɔrd[/t]] n. 1) big (Aaron) Montgomery, 1843–1913, U.S. mail order retailer 2) big Artemus (Charles Farrar Browne), 1834–67, U.S. humorist 3) big Barbara (Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth), 1914–81, British economist, journalist, and… …   From formal English to slang

  • Mary Augusta Ward — For other people named Mary Ward, see Mary Ward (disambiguation). Mary Augusta Ward Born Mary Augusta Arnold 11 June 1851(1851 06 11) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Died …   Wikipedia

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