Mary Ann Kelty

Mary Ann Kelty (1789 – 8 January 1873) was a British religious writer. She is said to have written the first religious novel.

Mary Ann Kelty
Born1789
Cambridge
Died8 January 1873
Peckham
NationalityBritish

Life

Kelty was born in Cambridge in 1789. Her father was a surgeon who rapidly became estranged from his wife. As a result, Kelty received her education from friends of her brother who was a senior fellow of Cambridge University.[1]

Kelty's first novels were published in America, Britain and Europe in the 1820s.[2] Kelty's parent's died in 1822 which was the same year as The Favourite of Nature, a tale was published. This was said to be the first religious novel.[3]

Kelty became more religious and she was intrigued by the ideas of the evangelist Charles Simeon; and towards the end of her life by the Quakers. She left her home city behind and moved to her final address of Peckham in 1832.[1]

Kelty included the Cambridge historian Professor William Smyth in her memoir Reminiscences of Thought and Feeling as "the professor".[4]

Kelty died in Peckham in 1873.

Works include
  • The Favourite of Nature, a tale, 1822
  • Osmond: A Tale
  • Trials: A Tale
  • The Story of Isabel
  • Alice Rivers
  • Visiting my relations, and its results, 1852
  • Reminiscences of Thought and Feeling
  • The Solace of a Solitaire: A Record of Facts and Feelings, 1869

References
  1. Paul Baines, ‘Kelty, Mary Ann (1789–1873)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 6 Dec 2014
  2. Mary Ann Kelty, Orlando project, Cambridge University, retrieved 6 December 2014
  3. Martineau, Harriett (2006). Autobiography. Broadview Press. p. 322. ISBN 1770480749.
  4. William Smyth, Wikisource.org
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