Mary E. Ireland

Mary E. Ireland (, Haines; pen name, Marie Norman; January 9, 1834 – October 29, 1927) was an American author and translator. Born in Maryland, she lived a busy life in Washington, D.C., looking upon her literary labors as a recreation. Though she is remembered as "the poetess of Cecil County", she commenced to write poetry comparatively late in life, and not until she had attained distinction as a writer of prose. From 1895 through 1918, she wrote many popular books for young people, besides being the author of stories, poems, and essays. Her works appeared in the Cecil Whig, Scribner's Magazine, Oxford Press, Arthur's Magazine, Cottage Hearth, Household, Literary World, Ladies' Cabinet, and Woman's Journal. Her most popular work was Timothy and his friends. was born in the village of Brick Meeting House (now Calvert), Maryland, January 9, 1834. She was a daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Kirk) Haines. On father's side, sixth in descent from Richard Haines, English Quaker, In the old homestead of her parents, she grew to adulthood,

Ireland was educated in the ladies' seminary of Jamaica, Long Island,

Wishing to read German literature in the original, she began studying the language. As she was unwilling to make time for regular lessons, she obtained a German pronouncing reader, and without instruction from anyone, she succeeded in learning to read and translate, pronouncing correctly enough to be understood by native speakers. This knowledge of the language was a well-spring of pleasure to her, and well repaid her for the attention she paid upon it each day. Other translations published in book form included Red Carl (treating of the labor question), Lenchen's Brother, Platzbacker of Plauen, The Block House on the Shore, Erna Stark,

They were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy.

Selected works Books

Translations