Ménie Muriel Dowie
Encyclopedia
Ménie Muriel Dowie was a British writer.
Dowie was born in Liverpool
as the daughter of James Muir Dowie, a merchant, and Annie Dowie. Her maternal grandfather was Scottish author and publisher Robert Chambers.
Educated in Liverpool, Stuttgart
, and France, she spent her early twenties travelling. Her most spectacular tour, in the summer of 1890, was through the Carpathian Mountains
, where she travelled alone and on horseback. Her travelogue
, A Girl in the Karpathians, was published the following year, and she also lectured to packed audiences.
In 1891 Dowie married journalist and travel writer Henry Norman
, and over the next years travelled extensively with him. Their son, Henry Nigel St Valery Norman
, was born in 1897.
In 1895 her first novel, Gallia
, was published. Gallia caused some controversy concerning its depiction of sexual relationships and clearly marked Dowie as one of the New Woman
writers. Apart from other occasional writing, she published two more novels, The Crook of the Bough (1898), a satirical story describing contemporary attitudes to women in Turkey
, and Love and His Mask (1901), about the Boer War
.
In 1903 Henry Norman divorced her, causing a scandal by publicly accusing her of adultery
with mountaineer Edward Fitzgerald. Dowie withdrew from the literary scene and married Fitzgerald later that year. Their marriage, however, remained childless. Years of extensive travel followed.
In England, she settled down on a farm in the country and became a well-known cattle breeder
, exhibiting pedigree Red Poll
at shows around England and exporting livestock to Mombasa
, Kenya.
Dowie separated from Fitzgerald in 1928, and the latter died in 1931. Suffering from asthma
, and also believing that Great Britain was going to lose the war, Dowie emigrated to the United States in 1941. In 1943 her son, by then Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman, 2nd Baronet
, an Air Commodore
in the Auxiliary Air Force (Reserve) and a father of three, was killed in an aircraft accident, aged 45.
Ménie Muriel Dowie died in Tucson, Arizona
in 1945, aged 77.
Dowie was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
as the daughter of James Muir Dowie, a merchant, and Annie Dowie. Her maternal grandfather was Scottish author and publisher Robert Chambers.
Educated in Liverpool, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, and France, she spent her early twenties travelling. Her most spectacular tour, in the summer of 1890, was through the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, where she travelled alone and on horseback. Her travelogue
Travel journal
A travel journal, also called road journal or travelogue, is a record made by a voyager. Generally in diary form, a travel journal contains descriptions of the traveler's experiences, is normally written during the course of the journey, intended on updating friends or family on the journey...
, A Girl in the Karpathians, was published the following year, and she also lectured to packed audiences.
In 1891 Dowie married journalist and travel writer Henry Norman
Henry Norman
Sir Henry Norman, 1st Baronet PC was an English journalist and Liberal politician. Norman was educated privately in France and at Harvard University, where he obtained his B.A...
, and over the next years travelled extensively with him. Their son, Henry Nigel St Valery Norman
Nigel Norman
Air Commodore Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman Bt, CBE, RAF was a consulting civil engineer and Royal Air Force officer during the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
, was born in 1897.
In 1895 her first novel, Gallia
Gallia (novel)
Gallia is an 1895 novel written by Ménie Muriel Dowie. It is usually categorised as a New Woman novel.-Plot introduction:Set mainly in 1890s London and rural Surrey, Gallia is about a conventional aristocratic family with an unconventional daughter, who is the eponymous heroine of the story...
, was published. Gallia caused some controversy concerning its depiction of sexual relationships and clearly marked Dowie as one of the New Woman
New Woman
The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century. The New Woman pushed the limits set by male-dominated society, especially as modeled in the plays of Norwegian Henrik Ibsen . "The New Woman sprang fully armed from Ibsen's brain," according to a joke by Max Beerbohm...
writers. Apart from other occasional writing, she published two more novels, The Crook of the Bough (1898), a satirical story describing contemporary attitudes to women in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Love and His Mask (1901), about the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
In 1903 Henry Norman divorced her, causing a scandal by publicly accusing her of adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with mountaineer Edward Fitzgerald. Dowie withdrew from the literary scene and married Fitzgerald later that year. Their marriage, however, remained childless. Years of extensive travel followed.
In England, she settled down on a farm in the country and became a well-known cattle breeder
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, exhibiting pedigree Red Poll
Red Poll
The Red Poll is a dual purpose breed of cattle developed in England in the latter half of the 19th century.-Description and uses:The cattle are red, preferably deep red with white only on the tail switch and udder. They are naturally polled...
at shows around England and exporting livestock to Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, Kenya.
Dowie separated from Fitzgerald in 1928, and the latter died in 1931. Suffering from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, and also believing that Great Britain was going to lose the war, Dowie emigrated to the United States in 1941. In 1943 her son, by then Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman, 2nd Baronet
Nigel Norman
Air Commodore Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman Bt, CBE, RAF was a consulting civil engineer and Royal Air Force officer during the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
, an Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
in the Auxiliary Air Force (Reserve) and a father of three, was killed in an aircraft accident, aged 45.
Ménie Muriel Dowie died in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
in 1945, aged 77.