Mannin, Ethel, 1900-1984

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The oldest of three children, Ethel Edith Mannin was born on October 11, 1900 in Clapham, a suburb of London, to Robert Mannin and Edith Gray Mannin. She was author of almost one hundred books (her goal was to publish one novel and one work of nonfiction each year). She published novels, travelogues, autobiographies, children's books, collections of short stories, books on child-rearing, and articles on pacifism and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Her journalistic career began at age seventeen, when she became the associate editor of The Pelican, a theatrical and sporting periodical, and held that position until 1919, when the magazine ceased publication. That same year, Mannin married John Alexander Porteous. Together, they had one child, Jean. Mannin spent very little time with her husband, preferring the company and lifestyle of her literary and left-leaning political friends, and they later divorced. In 1938, Mannin married Reginald Reynolds, a Quaker peace activist and friend of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mannin's first novel, Martha, was a runner-up in a competition for first novels, and was published by the contest's sponsors in 1923. Her first commercially and critically successful novel was Sounding Brass (1925). Mannin's satirical look at life in the twenties was based on her experience in the London advertising world. Critics often compared it to Sinclair Lewis's Main Street and Babbitt. One of her most popular novels was Late Have I Loved Thee (1948) which depicted a man's conversion to Catholicism and vocation to the priesthood. Mannin was often praised for her superior character development. She wanted to portray characters whom she described as "real people" who "eluded class distinctions." Critics often faulted her writing for being too concerned with her own personal political and social views, making her novels propagandistic. Her novels often dealt with contemporary events, such as The Road to Beersheba, which was a response to Leon Uris's popular and pro-Israeli novel Exodus. She was fervently anti-Zionist and very concerned over the plight of Palestinian refugees.

Even Mannin's nonfiction became controversial. E.F. Allen of the New York Times described her book Forever Wandering as a "travel notebook of a British novelist, who takes for granted that the world is interested in her observations and reaction...Although [she] is opinionated to point of irritation, she is honest in her attitudes and exuberant in her style or writing." Her first autobiographical work, Confessions and Impressions, was considered shocking at the time of its publication in 1930. The work, which included detailed accounts of extramarital affairs, caused an immediate scandal and earned her a reputation as an "angry woman." The book was written in part to scandalize the older generation and upset their conservative social values. Her profession of modernist sexual mores and advocacy of leftist causes gave Mannin a reputation as being both bohemian and risqué.

Though Mannin's permanent residence was England (for much of her life in Wimbledon and later in Devon), Mannin also maintained a cottage in Connemara, Ireland. One of her more well-known works was Connemara Journal (1947), an account of Mannin's pleasure in her isolated existence in Ireland. Her father was of Irish descent and she had a lifelong fondness for Ireland and all things Irish.

Mannin died in 1984 after a decline subsequent to fracturing her pelvis.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940. Emma Goldman papers, 1903-1940, bulk (1919-1940). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Emma Goldman papers, 1903-1940, 1919-1940 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Goldring, Douglas, 1887-1960. Douglas Goldring fonds. [1900-1964]. University of Victoria Libraries, UVic
referencedIn Papers of Verrier Elwin, anthropologist, 1924-1964 British Library
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Lawlor, Patrick Anthony. Correspondence on Katherine Mansfield, 1938-1966. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf PETER WELLS PAPERS. Vol. VI (ff. 207). General correspondence, etc., alphabetically arranged; 1942-1986, n.d. Partly signed. Partly typewritten and printed. The writers, all of whom are indexed in the present catalogue, include Henry Miller, John Mid..., 1942-1986 British Library
referencedIn Letters, 1932-1936. Houghton Library
creatorOf Ethel Mannin papers Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf Mannin, Ethel, 1900-1984. Letter : Oak Cottage, Burghley Road, London, [to E. H. Rasdall?] 1950 Sept. 30. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Mannin, Ethel, 1900-1984. Ethel Mannin collection, 1908-1981. Boston University. School of Medicine
creatorOf RUTLAND BOUGHTON CORRESPONDENCE. Vol. I (ff. 186). A-Scott, including:-(a) Frederic Austin; 1915, 1924. Partly signed. F. 1 printed, in part, by Hurd, on p. 56. ff. 1-4;-(b) Granville Bantock; 1913-1946. Partly signed. F. 7 printed on pp. 43-4. ff...., 1913-1954 British Library
creatorOf Katin, Louis,. Letters, 1932-1936. Houghton Library
referencedIn Louise Morgan and Otto Theis papers, 1903-1983 (inclusive, 1930-1960 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Reynolds, Ethel Mannin. Letter to [?] Windsor-Garnett. London, Eng. 1939 Nov. 27. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf VERNON BARTLETT. Vol. II (ff. 144). Lancaster -Wood.includes:ff. 1, 2 Sir Osbert Lancaster, artist and writer: Letters to V. Bartlett from Sir Osbert Lancaster: 1974, n.d. f. 3 James Laver: Letter to V. Bartlett from James Laver: 1949. ff. 4-8 Lee... British Library
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Donald and Katharine Foley Collection of Penguin Books, 1935-1965 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940. Letter, 1935 July 12, St. Tropez, Var [France], to Ethel Mannin [England?]. University of Michigan
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
associatedWith Faulks, Jean. person
associatedWith Foley, Donald L. person
associatedWith Foley, Katharine person
associatedWith Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940 person
associatedWith Goldring, Douglas, 1887-1960. person
associatedWith Gow, Ronald. person
associatedWith Harris, Frank, 1855-1931 person
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
correspondedWith Huxter, Robert person
associatedWith Katin, Louis, person
correspondedWith Katin, Louis, recipient. person
associatedWith Lawlor, Patrick Anthony. person
associatedWith Loraine, Lorn. person
associatedWith Morgan, Louise. person
associatedWith Morris, Lewis, 1833-1907. person
associatedWith Rasdall, E. H. (Ernest H.). person
spouseOf Reynolds, Reginald, 1905-1958 person
correspondedWith Reynolds, Reginald, 1905-1958 person
correspondedWith Turner, Gilbert, 1911- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
England ENG GB
Ireland 00 IE
Greater London ENG GB
Subject
Authors, British
Authors, Irish
Dramatists, English
English literature
Occupation
Author
Journalist
Women authors, English
Women journalist
Writer
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-10-11

Death 1984-12-05

English

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