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Mary, Mary
- Language
- EN
- Format
- EPUB
- Size
- 215 KB
Description
Mary, Mary recounts the life of a young girl named Mary Makebelieve and her mother, Mrs. Makebelieve, as they struggle to survive in poverty-stricken Dublin. The narrative focuses on their daily hardships, with Mrs. Makebelieve working as a charwoman to make ends meet and Mary’s enduring affection for her mother amid adversity. The story highlights themes of love, sacrifice, and aspiration within the context of early 20th-century Irish working-class life. The novel offers a detailed depiction of their modest circumstances, their hopes for a better future, and the bond that sustains them through hardships.
Set in Dublin and written in 1910, the work exemplifies early 20th-century British literature, with a focus on social realities and personal relationships. It provides insight into the experiences of poverty and resilience among Irish families during this period, combining elements of realism and social commentary. The narrative centres on the relationship between mother and daughter, revealing their inner worlds and shared dreams despite material deprivation.
Set in Dublin and written in 1910, the work exemplifies early 20th-century British literature, with a focus on social realities and personal relationships. It provides insight into the experiences of poverty and resilience among Irish families during this period, combining elements of realism and social commentary. The narrative centres on the relationship between mother and daughter, revealing their inner worlds and shared dreams despite material deprivation.
From the opening pages
If any of James Stephens' books might be thought to have need of an Introduction it would be the delightful story that is called "Mary, Mary" on one side of the Atlantic Ocean and "The Charwoman's Daughter" on the other. It was written in 1910, when the author was known as the poet of "Insurrections" and the writer of a few of the mordant studies that belong to a later book, "Here Are Ladies." In 1911 four people came together to establish "The Irish Review." They were David Houston, Thomas MacDonagh, James Stephens and the present writer. James Stephens mentioned that he could hand over some stuff for publication. The "stuff" was the book in hand. It came out as a serial in the second number with the title "Mary, A Story," ran for a twelvemonth and did much to make the fortune (if a review that perished after a career of four years ever had its fortune made) of "The Irish Review." From the publication of its first chapters the appeal of "Mary" was felt in two or three countries. Mary Makebelieve was not just a fictional heroine—she was Cinderella and Snow-white and all the maidens of tradition for whom the name of heroine is big and burthensome. With the first words of the story James Stephens put us into the attitude of listeners to the household tale of folk-lore. "Mary, Mary" is the simplest of stories: a girl sees this and that, meets a Great Creature who makes advances to her, is humiliated, finds a young champion and comes into her fortune—that is all there is to it as a story. But is it not enough to go with Mary to Stephens' Green and watch the young ducks "pick up nothing with the greatest eagerness and swallow it with the greatest delight," and after that to notice that the ring priced One Hundred Pounds has been taken from the Jewellers' window, and then stand outside the theatre with her and her mother and make up with them the story of the plays from the pictures on the posters?—plays of mystery and imagination they must have surely been. Then, of course, there is always Mary's mother; and Mrs. Makebelieve, with her beaked nose, and her eyes like pools of ink, and her eagle-flights of speech would give a backbone to any story. Mrs. Makebelieve has and holds all the…
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