The Great Valley by Mary Johnston

The Great Valley by Mary Johnston

Mary Johnston

1870-1936

Mary Johnston, a native of Buchanan, Virginia, grew up surrounded by books due to her frequent illnesses as a child. Despite her lack of formal education, she developed her knowledge through tutoring and independent reading. After the family's relocation to Birmingham, Alabama, Johnston assumed the role of caregiver for her younger siblings following her mother's death. In New York, she embarked on her writing career, with her novel Prisoners of Hope (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. Subsequently, Johnston authored twenty more novels, championed causes such as women's suffrage and prison reform, and established herself at Three Hills, Virginia. Despite declining popularity, she remained devoted to her writing until her death from cancer in 1936, leaving a legacy as an esteemed author with numerous awards and accolades.

Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org

1926

The Great Valley. Boston, MA; Little Brown, 1926.

AL Book Collection

Johnston, Mary, “The Great Valley by Mary Johnston,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed October 5, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/8532.