Joseph Ennemoser

Mary Howitt (1799–1888) was a versatile English author, editor, and translator who significantly contributed to literature and the burgeoning women's rights movement. She collaborated extensively with her husband, William Howitt, producing over 180 books that ranged from poetry and tales for young people to historical works. Her most famous original work is the poem "The Spider and the Fly." Howitt also played a crucial role in introducing Scandinavian literature to English readers by translating works by Hans Christian Andersen and Fredrika Bremer.

Beyond her literary output, Howitt was a dedicated advocate for women's independence and rights. She co-edited "Howitt's Journal," a publication that fostered discussion on social and political issues, and actively participated in campaigns for married women's property rights, collecting hundreds of signatures for a petition. Her own daughters were encouraged to pursue professional careers. Despite a prolific career, a contemporary assessment suggested her writings might not endure, but acknowledged her dedication to spreading "good and innocent literature."

Born Mary Botham, she married William Howitt in 1821, embarking on a remarkable career of joint authorship that spanned over four decades and resulted in more than 180 books. Initially focusing on poetry and contributions to periodicals, the couple later shifted towards prose, particularly successful tales for young audiences. They moved in prominent literary circles, associating with figures like Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell. Mary Howitt also took charge of publishing her husband's works and her own during his absence in Australia, demonstrating significant editorial and organizational skills. Her independent works included "Sketches of Natural History" and "The Heir of Wast-Wayland."

Mary Howitt developed a keen interest in Scandinavian literature during her time in Heidelberg in the early 1840s. She learned Swedish and Danish and subsequently translated numerous works from these languages into English. Her translations of Hans Christian Andersen's tales and Fredrika Bremer's novels were instrumental in popularizing these authors in the English-speaking world. This endeavor not only expanded the literary landscape but also brought new perspectives, including those on women's rights from Bremer's work, to a wider audience. She also contributed to "The Literature and Romance of Northern Europe."

A committed proponent of women's advancement, Mary Howitt actively integrated progressive political ideas into her work, notably in "Howitt's Journal." She championed the cause of women's independence, both in her writings and through direct action. As a mother, she ensured her daughters had opportunities to develop their professional talents. Howitt became deeply involved with the Married Women's Property Committee, serving as secretary and diligently collecting signatures for a petition advocating for legal reforms concerning women's property rights. Her efforts placed her alongside other prominent female writers on this influential petition.

In addition to her extensive literary output, Mary Howitt produced significant historical works. Her "Popular History of the United States," published in the mid-19th century, has garnered posthumous praise for its literary style and its progressive approach. Unusually for its time, this work addressed the issue of slavery with considerable detail, offering sharp critiques of slave codes and drawing parallels between slave revolts and the Salem witch trials. She also questioned the hypocrisy of the American Revolution, highlighting the colonists' struggle for liberty while denying it to others. This demonstrates a keen social and political awareness underpinning her historical narratives.

“Girls must be made independent.”

“Their friends used jokingly to call them William and Mary, and to maintain that they had been crowned together like their royal prototypes. Nothing that either of them wrote will live, but they were so industrious, so disinterested, so amiable, so devoted to the work of spreading good and innocent literature, that their names ought not to disappear unmourned.”