Fields of Victory (ePub)

Humphry Mrs. Ward, born Mary Augusta Arnold in Tasmania on June 11, 1851, was a renowned British novelist who gained prominence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A niece of the poet Matthew Arnold and the granddaughter of Dr. Thomas Arnold, headmaster of Rugby School, she was steeped in a rich literary and intellectual tradition from a young age. Ward's marriage to Thomas Humphry Ward, a fellow and tutor of Brasenose College, Oxford, led to her often being referred to as 'Mrs. Humphry Ward.' Her writing career flourished with her deep involvement in the intellectual circles of Oxford and London. She is best known for her novel 'Robert Elsmere' (1888), which explored the crisis of faith experienced by the titular clergyman. A prolific writer, she penned numerous other works including 'Helbeck of Bannisdale' (1898) and 'Lady Rose's Daughter' (1903). Ward's 'Fields of Victory' (1919), written in response to World War I, underlines her narrative style that intertwines personal lives with larger social and religious themes. Despite her conservative views regarding women's suffrage, her literature often conveyed strong, educated women grappling with ethical and spiritual dilemmas that mirrored the anxieties of the changing world around her. Ward's literary style was characterized by a keen analysis of character and a strong sense of didacticism, influenced by her familial connection to the cultural elite of Victorian England. She passed away on March 24, 1920, leaving behind a profound legacy as a novelist and social thinker.