# Mary Hughes (British author)

Mary Hughes (sometimes spelled Hughs), née Mary Robson, was a British children's and Christian literature author.

## Biography

She was born in Newcastle, England, and began writing children's books in 1811. Her first works, including Aunt Mary's Tales for the Entertainment and Improvement of Little Girls: Addressed to her Nieces, written in 1811, followed by Aunt Mary's Tales for the Entertainment and Improvement of Little Boys: Addressed to her Nephews in 1813, and The Ornaments Discovered in 1815, were all popular novels in England, so much so that they were also published abroad in the United States unbeknownst to Hughes. She also wrote several pamphlets for the Christian Tract Society, becoming a member for life in 1813.
She married Thomas Hughes, from Dundee, Scotland, in 1817, and the year after, emigrated to Philadelphia. When Mary Hughes arrived, she found that "the popularity of her books preceded her" and "commenced a school for young ladies" with the help of philanthropist John Vaughan Esq.
On the subject of the nameless school, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, author of Woman's Record, states, "... it is believed few undertakings ever rose more rapidly in popularity, as many of the mothers of the present generation, in the most distinguished families in the city, can testify."
Hughes was also a frequent contributor to the publisher Lindsay and Blakiston. In The Mother's Birthday, a Lindsay and Blakiston publisher advertisement writes, "Mrs. Hughs is well-known as one of our most popular contributors..." and "We are glad to see a lady of Mrs. Hughs' abilities so usefully employed."
After 21 years of running the school, in 1839, Mary Hughes and her husband Thomas retired to a farm in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

## List of attributed works

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1811 | Aunt Mary's Tales for the Entertainment and Improvement of Little Girls: Addressed to her Nieces | Links to 2nd edition, 1819 |
| 1813 | Aunt Mary's Tales for the Entertainment and Improvement of Little Boys: Addressed to her Nephews | Links to 2nd American edition, 1827 |
| 1815 | The Ornaments Discovered | Links to 2nd edition, 1821 |
| 1818 | The Metamorphoses | Believed to be 1st edition |
| 1818 | The Alchemist | |
| 1819 | The Orphan Girl | Believed to be 1st edition |
| 1820 | A Natural History of Quadrupeds in Simple Verse: Designed for Children | Believed to be 1st edition |
| 1820 | The Twin Brothers | Boase cites 1839, yet this edition is earlier |
| 1820 | Something New From Aunt Mary | |
| 1820 | Village Dialogues | Printed in vol. 1 of Tracts Designed to Inculcate Moral Conduct on Christian Principles, published by the Christian Tract Society. Boase cites 1839 as well |
| 1820 | The Sick Man's Friend | Printed in vol. 3 of Tracts Designed to Inculcate Moral Conduct on Christian Principles, published by the Christian Tract Society. |
| 1820 | An Affectionate Address to the Poor | Printed in vol. 3 of Tracts Designed to Inculcate Moral Conduct on Christian Principles, published by the Christian Tract Society. |
| 1821 | The Rebellious Schoolgirl | |
| 1822 | The Life of William Penn | |
| 1824 | A Mother's Care Rewarded: in the Correction of Those Defects Most General in Young People, During Their Education | Hathitrust.org cites Hughes as the author, though the book makes no reference to her |
| 1829 | Emma Mortimer | |
| 1830 | Pleasing and Instructive Stories | Links to an undated edition |
| 1835 | The Two Schools | |
| 1836 | Sickroom Dialogues, 4th Edition | |
| 1846 | Julia Ormond | |
| 1849 | The Ivy Wreath | Believed to be published in 1849 by Lindsay and Blakiston; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | The Proud Girl Humbled; or, The Two School-mates | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | Holidays in the Country, or, Vanity Disappointed | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | Lissie Linden and Her Mockingbird | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | Generosity, or, the Story of Sybella and Florence | Believed to be published in 1849 by Lindsay and Blakiston; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | The Mother's Birthday, or, the Broken Vase | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | The Gipsy Fortune-Teller, or, the Troubadour | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | Frank Worthy, or, the Orphan and His Benefactor | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1849 | May Morning, or, a Visit to the Country | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1849; original publication date unknown |
| 1850 | The Young Artist, or, Self-Conquest | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1850; original publication date unknown |
| 1850 | The Young Sailor, or, Perseverance Rewarded | Published by Lindsay and Blakiston in 1850; original publication date unknown |
| ? | Buds and Blossoms | Unknown publication date |