May Crommelin
Encyclopedia
Maria Henrietta de la Cherois Crommelin, known as May de la Cherois Crommelin, (1850–1930) was a novelist and travel writer born in Ulster
, Ireland at Carrowdore
Castle in County Down
.
While growing up, she and her family often lived elsewhere because of the political situation at home, and Crommelin was educated by governesses. The family moved to England in the 1880s and after the death of her traditionalist father in 1885 she lived independently in her own flat in London. Though her family were "French gentry", descended from the Huguenot
linen merchant Louis Crommelin, they were not at all wealthy, and Crommelin earned a living by writing. One of her cousins was the astronomer Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin
.
(which she described in her 1896 work Over the Andes From the Argentine to Chili and Peru), the West Indies, North Africa and elsewhere. She wrote 42 novels, which were often based upon her travels. Her first, Queenie, was published in 1874. Orange Lily of 1879 is set in Ulster, where she was born. In 1884 she published Joy, set on Dartmoor
where she first lived after coming to England; and her Cross-Roads of 1890 relies on her knowledge of France and Italy. Her work met with mixed reviews: for instance Goblin Gold (1885) was disparaged at the time. She also contributed travel pieces and short stories to magazines like The Idler
.
Crommelin's work is not well known today. Her travel writing seems romanticised to modern critics, and her fiction melodramatic.
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland at Carrowdore
Carrowdore
Carrowdore is a small village on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies within the Borough of Ards. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 816.- Education :...
Castle in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
.
While growing up, she and her family often lived elsewhere because of the political situation at home, and Crommelin was educated by governesses. The family moved to England in the 1880s and after the death of her traditionalist father in 1885 she lived independently in her own flat in London. Though her family were "French gentry", descended from the Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
linen merchant Louis Crommelin, they were not at all wealthy, and Crommelin earned a living by writing. One of her cousins was the astronomer Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin
Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin
Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin was a Irish-born, British astronomer of Huguenot descent. He was born in Cushendun, County Antrim, and educated in England at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and went on several solar eclipse...
.
Writing
She travelled widely, going to the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
(which she described in her 1896 work Over the Andes From the Argentine to Chili and Peru), the West Indies, North Africa and elsewhere. She wrote 42 novels, which were often based upon her travels. Her first, Queenie, was published in 1874. Orange Lily of 1879 is set in Ulster, where she was born. In 1884 she published Joy, set on Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
where she first lived after coming to England; and her Cross-Roads of 1890 relies on her knowledge of France and Italy. Her work met with mixed reviews: for instance Goblin Gold (1885) was disparaged at the time. She also contributed travel pieces and short stories to magazines like The Idler
The Idler (1892-1911)
The Idler was an illustrated monthly magazine published in Great Britain from 1892 to 1911. It was founded by the author Robert Barr, who brought in the humorist Jerome K. Jerome as co-editor, and its contributors included many of the leading writers and illustrators of the time.-Content:The Idler...
.
Crommelin's work is not well known today. Her travel writing seems romanticised to modern critics, and her fiction melodramatic.