Ward, Mary Augusta Arnold

Mary Augusta Arnold (1851-), an English novelist. She is the granddaughter of Thomas Arnold of Rugby. She was born at Hobart, Tasmania, her father holding an educational post at that place. The family returned to England in 1856. In 1872 Miss Arnold was married to Thomas Humphry Ward. She has used the name of Mrs. Humphry Ward as a pen name. Mrs. Ward's first literary work was a child's story. She translated Amiel's Journal and wrote Miss Bretherton, but her work attracted no special attention until the appearance of Robert Elsmere in 1888, which made its author famous at once. Other novels are The History of David Grieve, Marcella, Eleanor, Lady Rose's Daughter, The Marriage of William Ashe, and Helbeck of Bannisdale. Mrs. Ward's novels are conceived powerfully and are well executed, although they vary greatly in point of excellence.