Mary Webb A Short Study of Her Life and Work

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 7, 28 August 1931, Unnumbered Page

Mary Webb A Short Study of Her Life and Work

By

Hilda

Addison

3s ADDISON has done her work well. Deeply conscious of the literary beauty and intense spirituality of Mary Webb’s work, her summing up of her artistic achievement is comprehensive, concise and anplytical, giving the salient points of different facets of that genius who was "half in faerie and half out." A comparatively short book, it yet tells much of what we desire to know, both in eritical estimate of Mrs. Webb’s place in the world of letters, and appraisement of the nobility and unselfishness of her deeply religious and somewhat austere personality. A strong character, yet with feminine inconsistencies, sympathetic to all grades of consciousness, but at times obstinate to a degree; enamoured of her beloved Shropshire, its peasants aud its garrulity, its ways and its works, and depicting the inhabitants, so her biographer asserts, more ably that Hardy does his Wessex natives. . oo. Brought up in a simple and pious atmosphere, Mary Webb a love of whatsoever things are good and holy, and early showed a passion for the miracle of nature's beauty. Marrying young, for a time she lived in Loudon, but her spirit never accustomed itself to the great city, but ever hovered in loye and mystical imagining over beloved Shropshire downs; and after a time she returned to her native soil, to become absorbed in nature, and forge close ties of sympathy and understanding with the sons and daughters of the soil, those labouring peasants whom she loved, which were never strained or broken throughout her lifetime. Generosity was an outstanding quality, and no beggar left her emptyhanded. Disappointment and ingratitude she met, but nothing deterred her zeal for humanity, and proverbial was her kindness to an endless stream of down-and-outs who haunted the hospitable "Spring Cottage." Mary Webb’s sense of the mystic, another worldness and great realisation of a great Presence always near earth’s beauty, was with her from her youth up. Barly she came under the influence of Julian of Norwich, and Julian’s meditations. upon the. immaneuce of a great God found, quick response in a mind attuned with infinite beauty and love. Of Mrs, Webb’s literary style the author has great appreciation and no criticism, She touches in separate chapters on its fictional value, spiritual sense, humour and poetic quality. "Precious Bane" she finds a book of noble beauty, a pre-eminent achievement of genius, and in this verdict many will agree. Who, having read them, can forget the many lovely passages, and the delightful Prudence, with her disfigured beauty, lovely soul, quaint phraseology and Dear Acquaintance? An incomparable picture of rural life, and of the strength -.of a spiritual union which eventually overrides lure of the flesh, though that too is a very important factor jin life near the soil, as visualised by Mrs. Webb, Tler later life was spent far from the metropolis, in whose teeming streets, poverty, squalor and hopelessness, she lost heart and her sensitive soul felt seared. Moreover, the intelligentsia, in whose circle for a time she moved, did not understand her nor she them; alfhongh there were one or two exceptions, among them Walter de la Mure, between thom gnd Mrs. Webb there arose a deep and abiding affectionate comprehension, Shrinking from criticism and comment, fate was unkind in bestowinz wv frail body and restless ueryes on this woman of genius, and she suffered for many years from the unhappy illness known as (raves Disease. But her invincible courage rose triumphant against the slings and arrows of malignant fortune, she made gallant struggle aguinst frailty and suffering, couceytrated on that series of great novels, and small collection of haunting: verse that she has bequeathed to the race she loved. To the last remained with her unquenchable ardour for the lovely sights and sounds of the green world of nature, aud and an acute and listening ear to the soft, sad music of humanity, In Octaber of 1927 she died of pernicious ‘anaemia. Remoaie from the town, her last resting-place ix in Shrewsbury, within sight of the distant hills, and larches that climb high "among the stars aslant." Across her grave swings w lime-tree’s loveliness. Under a blossonung tree Let me lie down, With one blackbird to sing to me In the evenings brown . Low in the grass, deep in the daisies, I shall sleep sound, safe from their blames and praises."