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Mary Elizabeth Braddon

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Author

The Resume

    (October 4, 1835-February 4, 1915)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Wrote 'The Trail of the Serpent,' 'The Octaroon,' 'Lady Audley's Secret,' 'Aurora Floyd,' 'Asphodel,' 'Phantom Fortune,' and 'The World, the Flesh, and the Devil'

Why she might be annoying:

    She wrote 'sensation fiction,' which dealt with lurid subjects like murder, adultery, and bigamy.
    Speaking of adultery, she fell in love with a married man, John Maxwell.
    Not only did she fall in love with Maxwell, but she lived with him and bore him six children in all.
    Their relationship caused a scandal, in which their servants quit.
    She finally married Maxwell at age 37, after his wife died.
    Most of her novels are now out of print.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She became an actress to provide for her mother and herself.
    She received critical re-evaluation by feminist critics such as Elaine Showalter in the 20th century.
    'Aurora Floyd' and 'Lady Audley's Secret' were adapted for the stage.
    She founded and edited literary magazines.
    To be fair, she helped raise John Maxwell's five children from his first marriage, since their mother was in an asylum.
    Her brother was premier of Tasmania.
    Her son, William Babington Maxwell, also became a novelist.

Credit: Truffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 86.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying