Mary Johnston

Mary Johnston (November 21, 1870 – May 9, 1936) was an American novelist and women's rights advocate from Virginia. She was one of America's best selling authors during her writing career and had three silent films adapted from her novels. Johnston was also an active member of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia, using her writing skills and notability to draw attention to the cause of women's suffrage in Virginia.

Early life Mary Johnston was born in the small town of Buchanan, Virginia, the eldest child of John William Johnston, an American Civil War veteran, and Elizabeth Dixon Alexander Johnston. Due to frequent illness, she was educated at home by family and tutors. She grew up with a love of books and was financially independent enough to devote herself to writing.

When Johnston was 16, her father's work with the Georgia Pacific Railroad caused the family to move to Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after the move, Johnston began attending the Atlanta Female Institute and College of Music in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the school for three months; this was the only formal education Johnston would receive. Beyond her native America, Johnston's novels were also very popular in Canada and in England.

During her long career Johnston wrote, in addition to 23 novels, numerous short stories, two long narrative poems, and one play.

Her book titled Hagar (1913), considered to be one of the first feminist novels as well as somewhat autobiographical, captures the early days of women's rights. Johnston's deep focus on female suffrage in the United States is documented by her letters and correspondence with women working for the right to vote. But Hagar created a controversy among men and tradition-minded women, who were upset by the book's progressive ideas. Many refused to purchase it and subsequent Johnston novels.

During her life, Johnston was close friends with Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell, who once commented: "I hesitate to write about the South after having read Mary Johnston."

Women's suffrage advocacy

Johnston was an early an active member of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia (ESL), which was founded in November 1909 by other Richmond-area activists like Lila Meade Valentine, Ellen Glasgow, and Kate Waller Barrett. She chaired the ESL's legislative and lecture committees and served as vice president from 1911 to 1914. Johnston's writings in support of women's suffrage also appeared in national publications, including the Atlantic Monthly and Woman's Journal and Suffrage News. Her Richmond home on Linden Row was listed in 1971.

Johnston was honored by the Library of Virginia as part of its 2005 class of Virginia Women in History.

Johnston's name is featured on the Wall of Honor on the Virginia Women's Monument, located in Capitol Square in Richmond.

Selected works

Prisoners of Hope (1898) To Have and to Hold (By Order of the Company) (1900) Audrey (1902), illustrations by Frederick Coffay Yohn Pioneers of the Old South (1903) Sir Mortimer (1904), illustrator F. C. Yohn The Goddess of Reason (1907), a drama in five acts Lewis Rand (1908), illustrator F. C. Yohn The Long Roll (1911), with illustrations by N. C. Wyeth Cease Firing (1912), illustrator N. C. Wyeth Hagar (1913) The Witch (1914), frontispiece in color by N. C. Wyeth The Fortunes of Garin (1915), frontispiece in color by Arthur I. Keller The Wanderers (1917) Foes (1918) Michael Forth (1919) Sweet Rocket (1920) Silver Cross (1921) 1492 (1922) The Great Valley (1926) The Exile (1927) Miss Delicia Allen (1932)