# Emily Lawless

## Biography

Emily Lawless was an Irish novelist, historian, and poet born on June 17, 1845, at Lyons Castle in County Kildare to a noble family. Privately educated, she developed a keen interest in Irish history and politics, maintaining Unionist views throughout her life. After her father’s death, she resided in various places, including England and Dublin. Her initial novels, "A Chelsea Householder" and "A Millionaire’s Cousin," struggled to find an audience.

However, Lawless achieved critical and popular acclaim with her third novel, "Hurrish: A Study," in 1886. She continued to explore Irish themes in works such as "With Essex in Ireland" and "Grania: The Story of an Island." Her poetry collection, "With the Wild Geese," published in 1902, was particularly well-received. In 1905, the University of Dublin awarded her an honorary D.Litt. degree. Her later years were marked by declining health, and she passed away on October 19, 1913, in Surrey, England. Despite a significant body of work, she is often considered a minor figure in Irish fiction, though recognized for her intellectualism and contributions to early modernism.

## Books

- [A Garden Diary: September 1899—September 1900](https://samolit.com/books/96792)