Mary Linskill (13 December 1840 – 9 April 1891) was an English novelist, short-story writer and poet. She became especially popular in her native

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

, whose landscape and scenery became a hallmark of her work.

Childhood

Mary Linskill was born on 13 December 1840 in

Whitby Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is on the Yorkshire Coast at the mouth of the River Esk, North Yorkshire, River Esk and has a maritime, mineral and tourist economy. From the Middle Ages, Whitby ...

. She was the daughter of Mary Ann and Thomas Linskill. At the age of 11, Linskill's school education ended and she went to work for Charles James and learnt the

millinery Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter. Historically, milliners made and sold a range of accessories for clothing and hairstyles. ...

trade.

Career

Mary Linskill moved with her mother into a small cottage near Newholme village. There she crafted many of her literary pieces. She went on to work in places such as Manchester and Newcastle, and later became qualified to become a schoolteacher in Hawksworth. She then served as a governess in

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

. Many of Linskill's early writings, such as ''Tales of North Riding'' in 1871, appeared under the pseudonym "Stephen York" in ''

Good Words ''Good Words'' was a 19th-century monthly periodical established in Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consist ...

'' magazine. Three of her major novels were ''Between the Heather and the Northern Sea'' (1884), ''The Haven under the Hill'' (1886) and ''In Exchange for a Soul'' (1887). Having moved away from Whitby earlier in life, Linskill had to return on her father's death, as her siblings and mother were left impoverished. The turbulent and noisy life in Whitby posed a challenge to a writer who preferred a peaceful and solemn environment. However, the seaport had influences on her writings. In general, portrayal of Yorkshire landscape and scenery became a distinguishing mark of her works.

Death

Linskill died on 9 April 1891 at the age of 50, at her Spring Vale home in Whitby. A monument in her honour stands in the parish churchyard and her remains are buried in Whitby Cemetery.

Selected works

Novels

*''Tales of North Riding'', 1871. Bibliolife. *''The Haven Under the Hill'', 1886. RareBooksClub.com. *''Cleveden'', 1892. Caedmon of Whitby. *''In Exchange for a Soul'', 1887. Nabu Press.

Short stories

*''Raith Wyke'', 1874 *''Carl Forrest's Faith'', 1883 *''The Magic Flute'', 1884 *''A Lost Son'', 1885 *''The Glover's Daughter'', 1885 *''A Garden of Seven Lilies'', 1886 *''Hagar: A North Yorkshire Pastoral'', 1887 *''Robert Holt's Illusion'', 1888

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Linskill, Mary 1840 births 1891 deaths 19th-century English poets 19th-century English women writers People from Whitby Writers from North Yorkshire