Marian Keith
Marian Keith was a Canadian author born in 1876 in Rugby, Ontario. She received her education at the Collegiate Institute in Orillia and graduated from Toronto Normal School in 1896, eventually becoming a teacher. Keith's literary works often reflect her deep religious beliefs, influenced in part by her marriage to a Presbyterian minister. Her notable novels include "Glad Days in Galilee" (1935), which depicts the boyhood of Jesus, and "Little Miss Melody" (1921), both of which emphasize core Christian values. Additionally, Keith explored the experiences of Scottish immigrants in Canada, inspired by her Scottish heritage, particularly in her 1924 novel "A Gentleman Adventurer," which tells the story of a Scottish immigrant's journey with the Hudson's Bay Company. Her works adeptly navigate the dynamics among various cultural groups, including Scots, Irish, and English, while also incorporating humor into serious themes. Keith was an active figure in the literary community and was associated with prominent authors such as Nellie McClung and L. M. Montgomery, contributing to the movement for women's writing in her time.
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Marian Keith
Fiction and Nonfiction Writer
- Born: August 27, 1874
- Birthplace: Rugby, Ontario, Canada
- Died: February 10, 1961
- Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
Marian Keith was born in 1876 in Rugby, Ontario, Canada. She attended Collegiate Institute in Orillia, and then went on to Toronto Normal School, graduating in 1896. Keith later was a teacher as well as an author.
Most of Keith’s literary works were influenced by religion. She married a Presbyterian minister, which may have influenced her novel Glad Days in Galilee: A Story of the Boyhood of Jesus (1935). Religion is also a focus of her novels Little Miss Melody (1921), and The End of the Rainbow (1913), which focus on the strength of basic Christian values. She was also interested in the experiences of Scottish immigrants moving to Canada, an interest that probably was due to her Scottish mother and that greatly influenced her book A Gentleman Adventurer: A Story of the Hudson’s Bay Company (1924). This novel chronicles the life a Scottish immigrant who came to Canada with plans to work for the Hudson Bay Company.
Keith’s novels skillfully dealt with the drama that occurred between the Scots, Irish, English, Methodists, and Presbyterians. In addition, she found elegant ways to introduce comic relief in serious subject matter. She was well known in her local literary circles and associated with authors Nellie McClung and L. M. Montgomery, who, like Keith, contributed to a revival of writing by women.