Mary Martha Sherwood
Mary Martha Sherwood (1775-1851) was a prolific English author known for her didactic children's literature and religious writings. Born near Worcester, she was the daughter of an evangelical minister and grew up in a household that valued education and literature. Encouraged from a young age, Sherwood began composing stories before she could write, and her first novel, *The Traditions*, was published at age 20. After marrying Henry Sherwood, a military officer, she spent a decade in India, where her experiences inspired much of her writing.
Sherwood's notable works include *The History of Little Henry and His Bearer Boosy* and *The History of the Fairchild Family*, which reflect her strict Christian beliefs and often depict her views on cultural and religious themes. Despite her popularity as an author—having published over four hundred works—she faced social challenges due to her stern religious perspective. Today, while her literary contributions are recognized for their historical significance, they are also critiqued for their gender and ethnic portrayals, making them subjects of study in discussions about colonial attitudes and literature. Sherwood passed away in 1851, leaving behind a complex legacy in the realm of children's literature.
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Mary Martha Sherwood
Writer
- Born: May 6, 1775
- Birthplace: Worcester, England
- Died: September 20, 1851
Biography
Mary Martha Butt was born on May 6, 1775, near Worcester, England. Her father, George Butt, was an evangelical minister from a respected family. Her mother, Martha Butt, was a shy woman who preferred books to social gatherings. Mary and her older brother and younger sister were equally encouraged to make full use of their parents’ library, and all three children were tutored in Greek and Latin. Even before she could write, Mary was composing original stories, which her mother wrote down for her.
At sixteen, Mary enrolled in the Abbey School, where ministers’ daughters learned etiquette, as well as French, drawing, and music. When she returned home, she wrote her first novel, The Traditions (1795). That same year, her father died, sending her mother deeper into seclusion. Mary continued to write novels, which became increasingly serious and didactic. In 1803, she married Henry Sherwood, a cousin who had a commission in the army and who supported her efforts to write. Now Mary Martha Sherwood, she moved from place to place as her husband’s regiment was reassigned, and she devoted her energies to studying the Bible.
In 1805, shortly after the birth of a daughter, Mary and Henry went to India, leaving the baby with Mary’s mother. The regiment stayed in India for ten years. Shocked by poverty and by the local customs which did not reflect her own Christianity, Sherwood turned to writing to record and make sense of her experiences. Like many expatriates, however, Sherwood had little contact with native Indians, and her descriptions of poor Hindus and Muslims reflect her own stereotypical notions. She began teaching the children of other British families, but the work became a burden when her own health began to fail. Through it all, she wrote journals and sketches, and a great number of stories which she collected for later publication.
One of her first novels was also one of her most famous, The History of Little Henry and His Bearer Boosy (1814), a sentimental story about a British child who dies young, but not before he converts his Indian servant to Christianity. The book was issued in the United States in 1817, and it sold well in both countries. When the family returned to England in 1815, their income was unsteady, and Sherwood helped support the family by teaching and writing. Sherwood’s best-selling book was The History of the Fairchild Family (1818), a collection of stories “calculated to shew the importance and effects of a religious education.”
Between 1795 and 1851, Sherwood published more than four hundred books, religious tracts, and magazine articles. Though she was one of the most popular writers of her day, she was not socially popular, as her strident religious views made her stern and unyielding. She died on September 20, 1851. Through much of the nineteenth century, Sherwood’s stories of exotic Indian locations and strict Christian teachings were influential. Because of their gender and ethnic stereotyping, Sherwood’s books are studied today primarily for their historical value.