Elizabeth Christitch
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Elizabeth Christitch (
pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...
, Ben Hurst; 1861 – 26 January 1933) was an Irish and Serbian journalist, writer, poet, translator and patriot.


Biography

Elizabeth O'Brien was born in
Patrickswell Patrickswell, historically known as Toberpatrick (), is a small town in County Limerick, Ireland. It is primarily a commuter village for people working in Limerick, particularly the nearby industrial suburb of Raheen. The population was 847 at ...
, Limerick, Ireland to John O'Brien of Lough Gur, County Limerick. She married Colonel Ljubomir N. Christitch (also written Hristić) of the
Royal Serbian Army The Army of the Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Војска Краљевине Србије, Vojska Kraljevine Srbije), known in English language, English as the Royal Serbian Army, was the army of the Kingdom of Serbia that existed between 1882 a ...
. After helping to found the Catholic Women's Suffrage Society in 1911, she settled in his home country and during the Balkan War in 1913, she worked as a nurse for the Serbian soldiers. In
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, she worked in Belgrade for the Red Cross. Christitch was a journalist for the ''Tribune'', several
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
daily papers, and the ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' as well as contributing fiction to various periodicals. She translated the Serbian national anthem and it was this version that was sung in Britain during the war. Christitch used the pen-name "Ben Hurst". Her best known novel was ''The Pride of Garr'' (1925). She wrote on Balkan and international politics as well as women's suffrage and
Irish Home rule The Irish Home Rule movement was a movement that campaigned for Devolution, self-government (or "home rule") for Ireland within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It was the dominant political movement of Irish nationalism from 1 ...
. Christitch was an original member of the Serbian Relief Fund Committee. She and her daughter,
Annie Annie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Annie (given name), a given name and a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Annie (actress) (born 1975), Indian actress * Annie (singer) (born 1977), Norwegian singer The ...
, were prisoners in Serbia for three and a half years. Christitch gained her freedom through assistance from the
Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
. She and her husband had three children. Their son was General Nikola Christitch of the Royal Yugoslav Army and Aide de Camp to both Kings, Alexander I of Yugoslavia and
Peter II of Yugoslavia Peter II ( sr-Cyrl, Петар II Карађорђевић, Petar II Karađorđević; 6 September 1923 – 3 November 1970) was the last king of Yugoslavia, reigning from October 1934 until his deposition in November 1945. He was the last r ...
and their daughters were fellow patriot
Annie Christitch Annie Christitch (1885 – 1977) was a Serbian journalist, patriot and women's rights activist. Early life and education Annie Christitch was born to Elizabeth Christitch, Elizabeth O'Brien and Colonel Ljubomir N. Christitch (also written Hristi ...
and Janie Christitch who was later Mother Mary of the Cross. Christitch was given a blessing for her work by Pope Benedict XV. In 1919, Elsabeth Christitch was given a Vatican
Papal The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
audience with Benedict XV, the head of the Catholic faith, who was reported as having said "we should like to see women electors everywhere". Christitch died in London on 26 January 1933 due to a weak heart.


Awards and honours

* Christitch was awarded medals from both the Serbian government and the
American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...
for her work.


Works

*''Light and Shade in Albania'', 1913 *''A word on woman suffrage'' *''The Slovenes : A Small Nationality'', 1918 *''The Slovenes and Their Leaders'', 1918 *''Church conditions in Jugo-slavia'', 1920 *''Reunion and fusion of the southern slavs'', 1921 *''The Pride of Garr'', 1925


References and sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christitch, Elizabeth 1861 births 1933 deaths Writers from Limerick (city) 20th-century Irish women writers 20th-century Serbian women writers People from Patrickswell Writers from County Limerick