Frequently asked questions about Mary Ward:

What is the correct name? Mary Augusta Ward, Mrs. Humphry Ward, or what?

The conventions are changing. Until recently, Ward has always been known as "Mrs. Humphry Ward," and anyone pursuing information about her, will need to search for material using that name and "Mary Ward."

The change reflects changing conventions for referring to many other nineteenth-century women writers. As women have gained more respect in general, critics have chosen to use parallel language for writers of both sexes: after all, we give Charles Dickens his first name, so why not do the same for women writers, rather than identifying them by their marital status. "Miss Dickinson" is now "Emily Dickinson." Long ago, critics stopped referring to "Mrs. Cross" or "Mrs. Lewes," and accepted the name "George Eliot," the nom de plume of Marian Evans. More recently, critics talked abut "Mrs. Gaskell," but this author is now called "Elizabeth Gaskell." The change is less complete with the author whose books were once attributed to "Mrs. Henry Wood," but she is generally called "Ellen Wood." Because authors like Wood and Ward published using their husbands' names and because many people know them only by the names on the covers of their books, it is a good practice to provide both names for clarity:
Mary (Mrs. Humphry) Ward

Why did she choose to be published under the name "Mrs. Humphry Ward"?

No one knows the answer to this for sure.

Some other people's theories:

• Ward's most recent biographer, John Sutherland, attributes it to "blind loyalty," a proclamation that she was "utterly and voluntarily her husband's property" (59).
• Elaine Showalter, in A Literature of Their Own, has similarly argued that "her strongest identification came from her role as wife and mother" (227).
• Anne M. Bindslev contends that use of her married name "was an expression of her attempt to identify with the ideal of The Angel of the House--or else of her guilt at having transgressed that ideal" (12)

The problem with these theories:

• Ward's marriage was apparently a happy one, but there is no doubt that she had plenty of identity separate from her husband, who was overshadowed by his famous wife. She traveled separately from him on many occasions, and had many independent projects.
• Ward always signed her criticism, prefaces, and letters to the editor "Mary A. Ward" or "M.A.W."

My own theories:

While the theories about identifying with her husband can't be completely rejected, I don't find them very persuasive for the reasons I've given. Two other possible explanations make more sense to me:

• Recognizing that "Mary" is a common name, the ambitious young author decided that "Mrs. Humphry Ward" was more unusual and memorable. Mary Ward had a strong eye for public perception and for what would "sell."
• However, my favorite theory is that she did not really choose the name at all. Having published under the name Mrs Humphry Ward early in her career, she became locked into that title.
• Ward's earliest critical articles in Macmillan's are attributed to "Mary Ward" or "M.A.W." or else go unsigned.
• Ward's second major publishing experience was with her contributions to The Dictionary of Christian Biography. In that reference book, her articles are signed "M.A.W." However, the "List of Writers" for the second (1880) volume of The Dictionary of Christian Biography (the first volume to which Ward contributed) identifies the initials M.A.W. with "Mrs. Humphrey [sic] Ward, Oxford." All contributors are identified by a title (usually Rev.), but as the only other woman contributor is unmarried (duly given the title Miss, with initials rather than a first name), no pattern for listing women's married names can be determined.
• Ward's first published book was the children's story Milly and Olly. One may suppose that the publisher, Macmillan, might have preferred to use "Mrs." on the title pages of juvenile publications, though preferences are harder to guess regarding use of the husband's rather than the author's own given name. The book is attributed to "Mrs. Humphry Ward."
• Ward's next book, Miss Bretherton, was issued by the same publisher, Macmillan. We can surmise the publisher would want to be consistent and use the same name for the second book as for the first.
• When Smith, Elder, and Co. took on Robert Elsmere, the author had little to advertise her but the modest success of Miss Bretherton, by Mrs. Humphry Ward.
• After the world-wide success of Robert Elsmere, the author was known the world over as "Mrs. Humphry Ward." It mattered little if she signed herself Mary A. Ward at the end of a piece; editors always headlined, "Mrs. Humphry Ward on Women's Suffrage," or whatever the topic might be.

Which name is preferable today?

• It gives her back her own identity. Any person deserves the dignity of being known by her own given name.
• In the twenty-first century, a book by "Mrs. Humphry Ward" sounds unreadable! A book by an author with that name sounds like it is conservative and boring. Ward's books are neither. Readers can approach the author "Mary Ward" without prejudice.
• The "Mrs. Humphry Ward" is a problem in its own right. As John Sutherland says, the name has "rendered her a figure of slight absurdity--a woman called Humphry" (59).
• The name "Mrs. Humphry Ward" has become a source of confusion. She is frequently confused with "Mrs. Henry Wood" (Ellen Wood) because of the "Mrs." and the same initials, or with Margaret Oliphant (sometimes still called "Mrs. Oliphant"), probably because both names sound a little silly!

Why did Ward oppose Women's Suffrage?

Not yet distilled for web use.

Where can I find books by Ward?

Other than Marcella, all Ward's books are currently out of print or available only with expensive library bindings. To locate copies, try the following:

1. Libraries: Most of the books have been out of print for so long that small public libraries are unlikely to carry them, but large public libraries and most good college and university libraries will have some books by Ward. And even small libraries offer interlibrary loan services to patrons.
2. Your Local Used Bookstores: You'd be surprised what you can find. Ward's books also show up at antique malls, frequently at very reasonable prices, like $3 or $4.
3. Online: There are several excellent online services that list holdings of bookstores throughout the world. Three good ones are
• Advanced Book Exchange (abebooks.com) http://www.abebooks.com/
• Bookfinder.com http://www.bookfinder.com/
• Alibris.com http://www.alibris.com/

Searching tip: Either search by "Ward" (no first name) + title, or search under multiple names: (Ward, Humphry; Ward, Humphrey; Ward, Mary Augusta). Many people use the misspelling "Humphrey," so using that spelling will uncover copies you might otherwise miss.

Caution: Searching under "Ward, Mary" will yield mostly items not by this author.