Molly Keane
Encyclopedia
Molly Keane was an Irish
novelist and playwright (born Mary Nesta Skrine in Ryston Cottage,Newbridge, County Kildare
). She grew up at Ballyrankin in County Wexford
and was educated at a boarding school in Bray
, County Wicklow
. She married Bobby Keane, one of a Waterford squirearchical
family in 1938 and had two daughters. She used her married name for her later novels, several of which (Good Behaviour
, Time After Time) have been adapted for television. Between 1928 and 1956, she wrote 11 novels, and some of her earlier plays, under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell. Molly was a member of Aosdána
. Her husband died in suddenly 1961, and following the failure of a play she published nothing for twenty years. In 1981 Good Behaviour
came out under her own name; the manuscript, which had languished in a drawer for many years, was lent to a visitor, the actress Peggy Ashcroft
, who encouraged Keane to publish it. The novel was warmly received and was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize
.
After the death of her husband, Molly Keane moved to Ardmore, County Waterford
, a place she knew well, and lived there with her two daughters, Sally and Virginia, until she died in 1996. She is buried beside the Church of Ireland
church, almost in the centre of the village.
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...
novelist and playwright (born Mary Nesta Skrine in Ryston Cottage,Newbridge, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
). She grew up at Ballyrankin in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
and was educated at a boarding school in Bray
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. She married Bobby Keane, one of a Waterford squirearchical
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
family in 1938 and had two daughters. She used her married name for her later novels, several of which (Good Behaviour
Good Behaviour
Written by Molly Keane in 1981,Good Behaviour tells a story of Irish society in the early twentieth century. Narrated by the daughter of the St. Charles family, Aroon, nothing is as it seems. A cold mother, a gay brother and a similarly inclined love interest all unseen or excused by the society...
, Time After Time) have been adapted for television. Between 1928 and 1956, she wrote 11 novels, and some of her earlier plays, under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell. Molly was a member of Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
. Her husband died in suddenly 1961, and following the failure of a play she published nothing for twenty years. In 1981 Good Behaviour
Good Behaviour
Written by Molly Keane in 1981,Good Behaviour tells a story of Irish society in the early twentieth century. Narrated by the daughter of the St. Charles family, Aroon, nothing is as it seems. A cold mother, a gay brother and a similarly inclined love interest all unseen or excused by the society...
came out under her own name; the manuscript, which had languished in a drawer for many years, was lent to a visitor, the actress Peggy Ashcroft
Peggy Ashcroft
Dame Peggy Ashcroft, DBE was an English actress.-Early years:Born as Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft in Croydon, Ashcroft attended the Woodford School, Croydon and the Central School of Speech and Drama...
, who encouraged Keane to publish it. The novel was warmly received and was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
.
After the death of her husband, Molly Keane moved to Ardmore, County Waterford
Ardmore, County Waterford
Ardmore is a fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland, not far from Youghal on the south coast of Ireland, with a population of around 330, although this varies with the tourist season. It is believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland...
, a place she knew well, and lived there with her two daughters, Sally and Virginia, until she died in 1996. She is buried beside the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
church, almost in the centre of the village.
External links
- http://www.virago.co.uk/author_results.asp?TAG=&CID=&PGE=&LANG=EN&ref=e2007030614553308&SF1=data&ST1=profile