Lifespan: 1852-1930
Nationality: American
Genres: Local Colour
Types of Work: Novels, Short Stories, Children's Books, Ghost stories
Style: Stories focus on New England life; some gothic-style stories
Bio: Mary Freeman was born in Randolph, Massachusetts on October 31, 1852. Her parent's orthodox Congregationalist views provided for a strict childhood and, as a result, religious constraints are a key part of some of her work.
Mary began her career in her teens, writing stories and verses for children to help support her family. She was quickly successful. Her first adult book, A Humble Romance and Other Stories was published in 1891.
In 1873, Mary met a young navy ensign, Hanson Tyler, and fell madly in love with him, though her love was not returned. She kept a photograph of him throughout her life and never let go of her love for him. Even as she was dying, she stated that Hanson Tyler was the only person she hoped to meet in Heaven. This undying, unrequited love frequently found its way into her writing, often reflecting itself in her characters.
Mary met Dr. Charles Freeman in 1892, and they became engaged in 1897. Charles was alcoholic who pressured Mary to write, and she sometimes worked on two stories at once. Her distressed emotional state reflected in her stories and the quality of her work began to slip.
Mary had Charles committed to the New Jersey State Hospital of the Insane in the early 20's, and they soon after received a legal separation. The spiteful Charles wrote his wife out of his will, leaving her just $1 on his death.
In 1926, Mary received William Dean Howells Medal for distinction in fiction. She was one of the first four women ever elected into the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
She died of heart failure on March 15, 1930 in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Novels:
Decorative Plaques (1883)
The Adventures of Ann (1886)
A Humble Romance and Other Stories (1887)
A New England Nun and Other Stories (1891)
Young Lucretia and Other Stories (1892)
The Pot of Gold and Other Stories (1892)
Jane Field (1892)
Giles Corey (1893)
Pembroke (1894)
Comfort Pease and Her Gold Ring (1895)
Madelon (1896)
Once Upon A Time (1897)
Jerome, a Poor Man (1897)
Silence, and other Stories (1898)
People of Our Neighborhood (1898)
In Colonial Times (1899)
The Jamesons (1899)
Evelina's Garden (1899)
The Love of Parson Lord and Other Stories (1900)
The Heart's Highway (1900)
Understudies (1901)
The Portion of Labor (1901)
A Far-Away Melody and Other Stories (1902)
Six Trees (1903)
The Wind in the Rose Bush and Other Stories of the Supernatural (1903)
The Givers and Other Stories (1904)
The Debtor (1905)
Doc Gordon (1906)
The Fair Lavinia, and Others (1907)
By the Light of the Soul (1907)
The Shoulders of Atlas (1908)
The Winning Lady, and Others (1909)
The Green Door (1910)
The Butterfly House (1912)
The Yates Pride (1912)
The Copy–Cat, and Other Stories (1914)
An Alabaster Box (1917)
Edgewater People (1918)