Mary Anne Sadlier
Encyclopedia
Mary Anne Sadlier was an Irish author.
Born Mary Anne Madden in Cootehill
, Co. Cavan, Ireland
, Sadlier published roughly sixty novels and numerous stories. She wrote for Irish immigrants in both the United States
and Canada
, enouraging them to attend mass and retain the Catholic
faith. In so doing, Sadlier also addressed the related themes of anti-Catholicism, the Irish Famine, emigration, and domestic work. Her writings are often found under the name Mrs. J. Sadlier.
Upon the death of her father, Francis, a merchant, Mary Madden emigrated to Sainte-Marthe, Quebec
in 1844, where she married publisher James Sadlier, also from Ireland, on November 24, 1846. Sadlier published much of her work in the family's Catholic magazine, The Tablet
. Sadlier experienced her most productive literary period after her marriage and was most creative after about the time all of her children were born. While living in Canada, Sadlier published eighteen books—five novels, one collection of short stories
, a religious catechism
and nine translations from the French—in addition to assorted magazine articles she contributed to the Pilot and American Celt free of charge.
After moving to New York in 1860, she produced 26 books, including 14 novels, within nine years. Sadlier apparently donated her articles out of sympathy with the nationalistic causes of Irish journals. In addition to the novels already discussed, during her stay in Montreal Sadlier also wrote two novels set in Ireland: Alice Riordan; the Blind Man's Daughter (1851) and New Lights; or, Life in Galway (1853). In New Lights, Sadlier deals with the Irish Famine for the first time. The book proved one of her most popular, going through at least eight editions in fifty years. In this novel, Sadlier focuses a polemical attack on the Protestant practice of converting Irish peasants by promising them soup, but condemns peasant retaliation and violence
(Fanning, 116).
In the early 1860s, the couple moved to New York
. The Sadlier's New York home became the hub of literary activity in the Catholic community, and Sadlier also enjoyed the company of the brightest Irish writers in the United States and Canada, including New York Archbishop John Hughes, editor Orestes Brownson
and Thomas D'Arcy McGee. She held weekly salons
in her Manhattan home, as well as her summer home on Far Rockaway on Long Island (James, 219). Her closest friend was D'Arcy McGee
, a poet, Irish nationalist exile and Canadian statesman known as one of the founding "Fathers of Confederation
" who helped bring about Canada's independence. McGee and Sadlier shared an interest in a "national poetry" that would not only capture the spirit of a people, but inspire them to political and national independence. While McGee, as a man, could take part in political rallies and organize Irish-American support for Home Rule, Sadlier, as a woman, directed her support for Irish independence
into literature
. McGee's associates in "Young Ireland
" included Samuel Ferguson
, who in the words of one critic "become a link with the Irish Literary Revival
of Yeats's generation "and were the founders of the Dublin newspaper the Nation" (Klinck, 169-170). McGee's biographer notes that Sadlier's success inspired him to write emigrant novels, and was planning a novel on this subject at the time of his death (Phelan, 285). McGee's controversial politics cost him his life, when an Irish-American radical who opposed McGee's shift to the right assassinated him in 1868. McGee, who sorely missed the Sadlier family after their move to New York in 1860, had been planning a visit when he was shot. His death was "a crushing blow to Mrs. Sadlier and her husband, who were his enthusiastic friends" (Anna Sadlier, 332). Sadlier edited a collection of McGee's poetry in 1869 in tribute to his memory.
She remained in New York for nine years before returning to Canada, where she died in 1903. In later years she lost the copyright to all her earlier works, many of which remained in print. One of Mary Anne's daughters, Anna Theresa Sadlier, also became a writer.
Born Mary Anne Madden in Cootehill
Cootehill
Cootehill, known before the Plantation of Ulster as Munnilly , is a prominent market town in County Cavan, Ireland.-History:Cootehill was established as a market town in 1725 when a charter was obtained to hold markets and fairs, and developed strong ties to the Irish linen industry...
, Co. Cavan, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Sadlier published roughly sixty novels and numerous stories. She wrote for Irish immigrants in both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, enouraging them to attend mass and retain the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
faith. In so doing, Sadlier also addressed the related themes of anti-Catholicism, the Irish Famine, emigration, and domestic work. Her writings are often found under the name Mrs. J. Sadlier.
Upon the death of her father, Francis, a merchant, Mary Madden emigrated to Sainte-Marthe, Quebec
Sainte-Marthe, Quebec
Sainte-Marthe is a municipality located in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges County Regional Municipality of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,080.-Population:Population trend-Language:Mother tongue language -References:...
in 1844, where she married publisher James Sadlier, also from Ireland, on November 24, 1846. Sadlier published much of her work in the family's Catholic magazine, The Tablet
The Tablet
The Tablet is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Contributors to its pages have included Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Paul VI ....
. Sadlier experienced her most productive literary period after her marriage and was most creative after about the time all of her children were born. While living in Canada, Sadlier published eighteen books—five novels, one collection of short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, a religious catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
and nine translations from the French—in addition to assorted magazine articles she contributed to the Pilot and American Celt free of charge.
After moving to New York in 1860, she produced 26 books, including 14 novels, within nine years. Sadlier apparently donated her articles out of sympathy with the nationalistic causes of Irish journals. In addition to the novels already discussed, during her stay in Montreal Sadlier also wrote two novels set in Ireland: Alice Riordan; the Blind Man's Daughter (1851) and New Lights; or, Life in Galway (1853). In New Lights, Sadlier deals with the Irish Famine for the first time. The book proved one of her most popular, going through at least eight editions in fifty years. In this novel, Sadlier focuses a polemical attack on the Protestant practice of converting Irish peasants by promising them soup, but condemns peasant retaliation and violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
(Fanning, 116).
In the early 1860s, the couple moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The Sadlier's New York home became the hub of literary activity in the Catholic community, and Sadlier also enjoyed the company of the brightest Irish writers in the United States and Canada, including New York Archbishop John Hughes, editor Orestes Brownson
Orestes Brownson
Orestes Augustus Brownson was a New England intellectual and activist, preacher, labor organizer, and noted Catholic convert and writer...
and Thomas D'Arcy McGee. She held weekly salons
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
in her Manhattan home, as well as her summer home on Far Rockaway on Long Island (James, 219). Her closest friend was D'Arcy McGee
D'Arcy McGee
Thomas D'Arcy Etienne Hughes McGee, PC, was an Irish Nationalist, Catholic spokesman, journalist, and a Father of Canadian confederation. He fought for the development of Irish and Canadian national identities that would transcend their component groups...
, a poet, Irish nationalist exile and Canadian statesman known as one of the founding "Fathers of Confederation
Fathers of Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation are the people who attended the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences in 1864 and the London Conference of 1866 in England, preceding Canadian Confederation. The following lists the participants in the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London Conferences and their attendance at...
" who helped bring about Canada's independence. McGee and Sadlier shared an interest in a "national poetry" that would not only capture the spirit of a people, but inspire them to political and national independence. While McGee, as a man, could take part in political rallies and organize Irish-American support for Home Rule, Sadlier, as a woman, directed her support for Irish independence
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
into literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. McGee's associates in "Young Ireland
Young Ireland
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid-19th century. It led changes in Irish nationalism, including an abortive rebellion known as the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Many of the latter's leaders were tried for sedition and sentenced to penal transportation to...
" included Samuel Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson
Sir Samuel Ferguson was an Irish poet, barrister, antiquarian, artist and public servant. Perhaps the most important Ulster-Scot poet of the 19th century, because of his interest in Irish mythology and early Irish history he can be seen as a forerunner of William Butler Yeats and the other poets...
, who in the words of one critic "become a link with the Irish Literary Revival
Irish Literary Revival
The Irish Literary Revival was a flowering of Irish literary talent in the late 19th and early 20th century.-Forerunners:...
of Yeats's generation "and were the founders of the Dublin newspaper the Nation" (Klinck, 169-170). McGee's biographer notes that Sadlier's success inspired him to write emigrant novels, and was planning a novel on this subject at the time of his death (Phelan, 285). McGee's controversial politics cost him his life, when an Irish-American radical who opposed McGee's shift to the right assassinated him in 1868. McGee, who sorely missed the Sadlier family after their move to New York in 1860, had been planning a visit when he was shot. His death was "a crushing blow to Mrs. Sadlier and her husband, who were his enthusiastic friends" (Anna Sadlier, 332). Sadlier edited a collection of McGee's poetry in 1869 in tribute to his memory.
She remained in New York for nine years before returning to Canada, where she died in 1903. In later years she lost the copyright to all her earlier works, many of which remained in print. One of Mary Anne's daughters, Anna Theresa Sadlier, also became a writer.
Selected works by Sadlier
- The Red Hand of Ulster; or, The Forutnes of Hugh O'Neill (1850)
- Willy Burke; or, The Irish Orphan in America (1850)
- The Blakes and Flanagans, A Tale Illustrative of Irish Life in the United States (1855)
- The Confederate Chieftains: a Tale of the Irish Rebellion of 1641 (1860)
- The Babbler; a drama for boys, in one act (1861)
- Bessy Conway; or, The Irish Girl in America (1861)
- Elinor Preston: or, Scenes at Home and Abroad (1861)
- The Pope's Niece, and Other Tales (1862)
- Old and New; or, Taste versus Fashion (1862)
- Confessions of an Apostate; or, Leaves from a Troubled Life (1864))
- Con O'Regan; or, Emigrant Life in the New World (1864)
- Aunt Honor's Keepsake (1866)
- The Secret (a drama) (1873)
- The Young Lady's Reader (1882)
- Alissa Flecq (1894)
- New Stories (1900)