Mary Johnston
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Brief Biography
Mary Johnston was a native of Buchanan, Virginia, and grew up surrounded by books due to her frequent illnesses as a child. Her family lived in Birmingham, Alabama for a few years before moving to New York, where Johnston began writing short stories. Four years later, the family moved back to Birmingham due to financial difficulties, and Johnston continued working on a novel she had begun in New York. She published her debut novel, Prisoners of Hope, in 1898, gaining moderate success. However, it was her second novel, To Have and To Hold (1900), that catapulted her to popularity, providing financial stability for her family. Johnston authored twenty more novels, championed causes such as women's suffrage and prison reform, and established herself near Germantown, Virginia. Despite declining popularity, she remained devoted to her writing until her death from cancer in 1936.
Publications
Prisoners of Hope. Boston; Houghton Mifflin, 1898.
By Order of the Company. London; Constable, 1900.
Audrey. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1902.
Sir Mortimer. London; Constable, 1904.
The Goddess of Reason. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1907.
Lewis Rand. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1908.
The Reason Why. New York; National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1909.
The Long Roll. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1911.
Cease Firing. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1912.
Hagar. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1913.
The Witch. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1914.
The Fortunes of Garin. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1915.
The Wanderers. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1917.
Foes. New York; Harper & Row, 1918.
The Laird of Glenfernie. London; Constable, 1919.
Michael Forth. New York; Harper & Bros., 1919.
Sweet Rocket. New York; Harper, 1920.
Pioneers of Old South. New Haven; Yale University Press, 1921.
1492. Boston; Little Brown, 1922.
Silver Cross. Boston; Little, Brown, 1922.
Croatan. Boston; Little, Brown, 1923.
The Slave Ship. Boston; Little, Brown, 1924.
The Great Valley. Boston; Little, Brown, 1926.
Prisoners of Hope; a Tale of Colonial Virginia. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1926.
The Exile. New York; Harper & Bros., 1927.
To Have and To Hold. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1928.
By Order of the Company. London; Constable, 1900.
Audrey. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1902.
Sir Mortimer. London; Constable, 1904.
The Goddess of Reason. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1907.
Lewis Rand. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1908.
The Reason Why. New York; National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1909.
The Long Roll. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1911.
Cease Firing. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1912.
Hagar. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1913.
The Witch. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1914.
The Fortunes of Garin. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1915.
The Wanderers. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1917.
Foes. New York; Harper & Row, 1918.
The Laird of Glenfernie. London; Constable, 1919.
Michael Forth. New York; Harper & Bros., 1919.
Sweet Rocket. New York; Harper, 1920.
Pioneers of Old South. New Haven; Yale University Press, 1921.
1492. Boston; Little Brown, 1922.
Silver Cross. Boston; Little, Brown, 1922.
Croatan. Boston; Little, Brown, 1923.
The Slave Ship. Boston; Little, Brown, 1924.
The Great Valley. Boston; Little, Brown, 1926.
Prisoners of Hope; a Tale of Colonial Virginia. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1926.
The Exile. New York; Harper & Bros., 1927.
To Have and To Hold. Boston; Houghton-Mifflin, 1928.
Themes
Mary Johnston was primarily a novelist who wrote about history and romance. She also wrote short stories, narrative poems, and even a play. Her works include themes like love, war, and feminism.
Publisher
Alabama Authors of the 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org
Collection
Citation
Johnston, Mary, “Mary Johnston,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed September 19, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/618.