The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-09
FAMOUS NOVELIST DEAD.
Mary {. Braddon, Who Wrote Many
Books.

Mary E. Braddon, VINO wrote many
Books.
London. Feb. 4.-Macy Elizabeth
Braddon the English novelist, died
today at her residence at Richmond
on-Thames after fortnight's illness.
Mary Elizabeth Braddon, one of
the most prolific and widely read
novelsts of the past two generations,
was born in London, in 1897, as the
daughter of Henry Braddon, a solicit
tor living in Soho Square. Her faith
er was a man of literary inclinations
and tastes and encouraged his daugf-
ter when, in her childhood, she evinc-
ed a ST ong liking and remarkable
talent for writing poetry and fiction.
AS young girl she received an ex-
cellent education at home by private
tutors and her favorite studies were
history, literature and languages
In farm house at Beverley tho
young novelist wrote her first book
which she entitled Three Times
Dead" or "The Secret of the Heath. 4"
The story was printed in serial form
and was late. reprinted under the
title The Trail of the Serpent" The
story did not make a great hit, but
encouraged Miss Braddon to continue
her literary work. Her next oppor
tunity came two years later, when,
with one stroke she saved publisher
from serious disappointment, won for
herself immediate recognition as a
writer of fiction and, incidentally, laid
the foundation for her own life rom
ance as the result of which she later
became the wife of the same publish.
er, John Maxwell.
Mr. Maxwell was on the point of
producing new magazine called
robin Goodfellow." The serial story
which was to begin in the first num-
Der, had been widely advertised, but
at the last moment 1t failed to come
owing TO some unavoidable accident
Both the editor, Charles Mackayand
Mr. Maxwell were in despair Miss.
Braddon heard of the matter and saw
her chance She called on the editor
and offered to write serial for him.
Mr. Mackay declined on the ground
that within "a hours he would have to
decide whether the magazine publ
cation would have to be postponed or
not
Miss Braddon was not deferred
She asked for the latest time for the
submission of the manuscript and the
editor replied, he would have to be in
possession of the opening chapters by
breakfast time on the following morn
ing. Nothing was arranged, but on
the following morning Mr.. Mackay
found the manuscript of the opening
chapters of Lady Audley's Secret
upon his breakfast table Miss Brad
don had written them during the night
thus saving the magazine f,om an
awkward situation The story made
a great hit and the acquaintance thus
begun led to her marriage to Mr..
Maxwell.
During her long career Miss. B,au
don wrote 90 novels, besides two
dramas and a multitude of essays.
sketches, short stories, and poems.
The profits which she derived from
the enormous sales of her books are
estimated at s1,O00,000, and several
publishers made fortunes out of them
She bought Litchield House at Rich
Thames. formerly the resi-
dence of the bishop of Litchfield, and
the charming and picturesque Annes-
ley House in the New Forest China
gardening. music and trav-
ell we'e her favorite recreations. Her
son, William Darlington Maxwell, who
survives both his parents. has inner
tied some OF his mothers talent and
has written several novels and a num-
Der Of short stories.