Winifred Mary Letts
Encyclopedia
Winifred Mary Letts was an English
writer, with strong Irish
connections, known for her novels, plays and poetry.
, Salford
, in what was then the County of Lancaster, (now Greater Manchester
), to an English father (the Revd Ernest Letts) and Irish mother (Isabel Mary Ferrier). She spent many childhood holidays in Knockmaroon, Phoenix Park
, Dublin, which was her mother's home. After her father's death, she and her mother returned to Ireland and lived in a house called Dal Riada in Blackrock, County Dublin. She was educated first in Bromley
in Kent
and later at Alexandra College
in Dublin. She trained as a masseuse and during World War I worked at army camps in Manchester.
In 1926 she married widower William Henry Foster Verschoyle, of Kilberry, County Kildare
; they lived in Fitzwilliam Square
, Dublin, and in County Kildare. After his death in 1943 she lived for a time with her sisters in Faversham
, Kent
. She returned to Ireland in 1950 and bought Beech Cottage in Killiney
, County Dublin
, where she lived until finally moving to Tivoli Nursing Home, Dún Laoghaire
, County Dublin in the late 1960s. She died in 1972 and is buried in Rathcoole
, County Dublin.
: The Eyes of the Blind (1906) and The Challenge (1909). She then started writing novels and children's book.
Her first poetry collection, Songs from Leinster, was published in 1913. Before that six of her poems had been set to music by C. V. Stanford in A Sheaf of Songs from Leinster (publ. 1914) of which the most famous is "A Soft Day". In 1916, by which time she was working as a nurse, she published Hallowe'en and Oher Poems of the War. The collection was re-issued the following year as The Spires of Oxford, and other Poems. A 'Publisher's Note' in this 1917 volume explained that "The verdict of the public, as shown by continual requests to republish, is that "The Spires of Oxford" is the most important poem in the volume—and therefore in issuing a new edition with several new poems, we bow to this verdict and give The Spires of Oxford its place in the forefront of the volume". Her poem "The Deserter
" (written in 1916), describing the feelings and fate of a man terrified by the war, is often used in collections of World War I poetry.
She continued to write novels and children's fiction. In 1933 Knockmaroon, a reminiscence of her childhood in Dublin in her grandparents' house, and considered her finest book, was published.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer, with strong Irish
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...
connections, known for her novels, plays and poetry.
Biography
She was born on 10 February 1882 in BroughtonBroughton, Greater Manchester
Broughton is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the east bank of the River Irwell and A56 road, in the northeastern part of the City of Salford, north-northwest of Manchester city centre and south of Prestwich. Broughton consists of Broughton Park, Higher...
, Salford
County Borough of Salford
Salford was, from 1844 to 1974, a local government district in the northwest of England, coterminate with Salford. It was granted city status in 1926.-Free Borough and Police Commissioners:...
, in what was then the County of Lancaster, (now Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
), to an English father (the Revd Ernest Letts) and Irish mother (Isabel Mary Ferrier). She spent many childhood holidays in Knockmaroon, Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, Dublin, which was her mother's home. After her father's death, she and her mother returned to Ireland and lived in a house called Dal Riada in Blackrock, County Dublin. She was educated first in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and later at Alexandra College
Alexandra College
Alexandra College is a private, single-sex school located in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. It serves girls from ages 4 to 19 as boarding or day pupils. The school is one of the most prestigious in Ireland and ranks highly in Leaving Certificate results tables...
in Dublin. She trained as a masseuse and during World War I worked at army camps in Manchester.
In 1926 she married widower William Henry Foster Verschoyle, of Kilberry, County Kildare
Kilberry, County Kildare
Kilberry is a village in County Kildare, Ireland. It is located on the R417 regional road in the valley of the River Barrow 4 km north of Athy.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
; they lived in Fitzwilliam Square
Fitzwilliam Square
Fitzwilliam Square is a small but historic Georgian square in the south of central Dublin, Ireland. It was the last of the five Georgian squares in Dublin to be built....
, Dublin, and in County Kildare. After his death in 1943 she lived for a time with her sisters in Faversham
Faversham
Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She returned to Ireland in 1950 and bought Beech Cottage in Killiney
Killiney
Killiney is a suburb of Dublin in south County Dublin, Ireland. It is within the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin....
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, where she lived until finally moving to Tivoli Nursing Home, Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
, County Dublin in the late 1960s. She died in 1972 and is buried in Rathcoole
Rathcoole
Rathcoole may refer to:* Rathcoole, Dublin, a village in south Dublin, Republic of Ireland* Rathcoole , a large housing estate in Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK* Rathcoole Aerodrome Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland...
, County Dublin.
Writing career
She began her career as a playwright, writing two one-act plays for the Abbey TheatreAbbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
: The Eyes of the Blind (1906) and The Challenge (1909). She then started writing novels and children's book.
Her first poetry collection, Songs from Leinster, was published in 1913. Before that six of her poems had been set to music by C. V. Stanford in A Sheaf of Songs from Leinster (publ. 1914) of which the most famous is "A Soft Day". In 1916, by which time she was working as a nurse, she published Hallowe'en and Oher Poems of the War. The collection was re-issued the following year as The Spires of Oxford, and other Poems. A 'Publisher's Note' in this 1917 volume explained that "The verdict of the public, as shown by continual requests to republish, is that "The Spires of Oxford" is the most important poem in the volume—and therefore in issuing a new edition with several new poems, we bow to this verdict and give The Spires of Oxford its place in the forefront of the volume". Her poem "The Deserter
The Deserter (poem)
The Deserter is a British First World War poem, written in 1916 by Winifred Mary Letts . It tells the story of a young British soldier who is shot for desertion. It has been included in several anthologies of First World War poems. The poem is used as one of many in Opening Lines, a GCSE English...
" (written in 1916), describing the feelings and fate of a man terrified by the war, is often used in collections of World War I poetry.
She continued to write novels and children's fiction. In 1933 Knockmaroon, a reminiscence of her childhood in Dublin in her grandparents' house, and considered her finest book, was published.
Works
- The Story-Spinner (1907)
- Waste Castle (1907)
- The Quest of the Blue Rose (1910)
- Bridget of all Work (1909)
- Diana Dethroned (1909)
- The Rough Way (1912)
- Naughty Sophia (1912)
- The Mighty Army (1912)
- Songs of Leinster (1913)
- Helmet & Cowl: Stories of Monastic and Military Orders (1913) with M. F. S. Letts
- Christina's Son (1916)
- Hallow-e'en and Poems of the War (1916)
- The Deserter (1916)
- The Spires of Oxford, And Other Poems (1917)
- Corporal's Corner (1919)
- What happened Then? (1921)
- More Songs of Leinster (1926)
- St Patrick the Travelling Man: The Story of his Life and Wanderings (1932)
- Knockmaroon (1933)
- Pomona & Co. (1934)
- Pomona's Island (1935)
- The Gentle Mountain (1938)