Esther Strachey ( Murphy, later Arthur; October 22, 1897 – November 23, 1962) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

academic, historian, and

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditio ...

Early life and education

Murphy was born on October 22, 1897, the daughter of Patrick Francis Murphy (1858–1931), owner of the Mark Cross Company, sellers of fine leather goods, and Anna Elizabeth Ryan (c. 1858–1932). She had two siblings: Gerald Clery Murphy (1888–1964) and

Frederic Timothy Murphy Frederic Timothy Murphy (September 4, 1884 – May 23, 1924) was the heir of a wealthy Bostonian family who served during World War I in France and at the Battle of the Somme, was decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor, and died few year ...

(1884–1924). Unable due to her mother's health to attend Bryn Mawr College, Murphy followed the Harvard University curriculum at home.

Career

She frequented a circle of American expatriates living in the French Riviera in the 1920s. A 1926 letter written from France by F. Scott Fitzgerald noted, ''"Nobody was in

Antibes Antibes (, also , ; oc, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal, Antíbol) is a coastal city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department of southeastern France, on the French Riviera, Côte d'Azur between Cannes and Nice. The town of ...

that summer... except me, Zelda, the Valentinos, the

Murphys Murphys or Murphy's may refer to: * Murphys, California, United States, an unincorporated village ** Murphys Grammar School, on the National Register of Historic Places ** Murphys Hotel, one of the oldest hotels still operating in California, on ...

, Mistinguett, Rex Ingram,

Dos Passos John Roderigo Dos Passos (; January 14, 1896 – September 28, 1970) was an American novelist, most notable for his ''U.S.A.'' trilogy. Born in Chicago, Dos Passos graduated from Harvard College in 1916. He traveled widely as a young man, visit ...

, Alice Terry, the MacLeishes, Charlie Brackett, Maud Kahn (daughter of philanthropist

Otto Kahn Otto Hermann Kahn (February 21, 1867 – March 29, 1934) was a German-born American investment banker, collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts. Kahn was a well-known figure, appearing on the cover of ''Time'' magazine and was sometimes ...

; wife of Major-General Sir John Marriott), Esther Murphy (sister of Gerald; wife of John Strachey), Marguerite Namara, E. Oppenheimer (sic), Mannes the violinist, Floyd Dell,

Max Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

and

Crystal Eastman Crystal Catherine Eastman (June 25, 1881 – July 28, 1928) was an American lawyer, antimilitarist, feminist, socialist, and journalist. She is best remembered as a leader in the fight for women's suffrage, as a co-founder and co-editor with ...

, ex-premier Orlando, Etienne de Beaumont..."'' When in Paris, she frequented Janet Flanner (who would later become a lover of her sister-in-law,

Noël Haskins Murphy Noël Haskins Murphy (December 25, 1896 – 1982) was an American performer, best-known as the wife and widow of Frederic Timothy Murphy (who died in 1924 of wounds suffered during World War I). She was also the lover of Paris-based American n ...

) and

Solita Solano Solita Solano (October 30, 1888 – November 22, 1975), born Sarah Wilkinson, was an American writer, poet and journalist. Biography Early life Sarah Wilkinson came from a middle-class family and attended the Emma Willard School in Troy, Ne ...

, Gertrude Stein and

Alice B. Toklas Alice Babette Toklas (April 30, 1877 – March 7, 1967) was an American-born member of the Parisian avant-garde of the early 20th century, and the life partner of American writer Gertrude Stein. Early life Alice B. Toklas was born in San F ...

Dolly Wilde Dorothy Ierne Wilde, known as Dolly Wilde (11 July 1895 – 10 April 1941), was an English socialite, made famous by her family connections and her reputation as a witty conversationalist. Her charm and humour made her a popular guest at s ...

and

Natalie Clifford Barney Natalie Clifford Barney (October 31, 1876 – February 2, 1972) was an American writer who hosted a salon (gathering), literary salon at her home in Paris that brought together French and international writers. She influenced other authors throu ...

(who was Murphy's passionate obsession). In 1928 Djuna Barnes wrote a satirical group biography of

's Parisian circle, the ''Ladies Almanack'' (1928), in which Murphy's caricature is "Bounding Bess." Murphy in turn wrote a fantasia that metamorphoses Barney into a 13th-century abbess also known for "amazing activities during the Crusades." Indeed, in a story recounted by Murphy,

Isabel Pell Isabel Townsend Pell (September 28, 1900 – June 5, 1951) was an American socialite and member of the French Resistance during World War II. She was subsequently decorated with the Legion of Honour. Early life and family Pell was born on Sept ...

, with Barney, really infiltrated a 13th-century Italian convent to meet with Alice Robinson, one of Barney's affairs. Murphy was also friends with Mercedes de Acosta,

Madge Garland Madge Garland (née McHarg; 12 June 1898 – 15 July 1990) was an influential figure in the British fashion scene, who made her name as a fashion journalist and editor working for, among others, ''Vogue'' and ''Women's Wear Daily''. From journ ...

, Edmund Wilson and Dorothy Parker. Another friend, novelist

Dawn Powell Dawn Powell (November 28, 1896 – November 14, 1965) was an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and short story writer. Known for her acid-tongued prose, "her relative obscurity was likely due to a general distaste for her harsh sati ...

wrote about what she perceived as Murphy's failure of a life: "Some people don't want to be the action – they really want to be spectator." She published essays and books, was a public speaker, and was a regular panelist along with Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Mead, and

Fanny Hurst Fannie Hurst (October 18, 1889 – February 23, 1968) was an American novelist and short-story writer whose works were highly popular during the post- World War I era. Her work combined sentimental, romantic themes with social issues of the ...

on the ABC radio program ''Listen – The Women!''.

Personal life

On April 29, 1929, Murphy married John Strachey, British Labour politician and writer.Matthew (editor), Colin (2004). Dictionary of National Biography. 52. Oxford: Oxford University Press. , essay on Strachey written by Michael Newman, pp1004-6 Oswald Mosley was the best man at the wedding.M. Newman: Strachey, (Evelyn) John St Loe (1901–1963), socialist theorist and politician. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 11 January 2018 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-36337. In 1935, Murphy married Gavin Arthur, a San Francisco astrologer and sexologist and a grandson of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur. He was also an early gay rights activist and a practical prototype for the hippies. They divorced in 1961. In 1945, she met writer

Sybille Bedford Sybille Bedford, OBE (16 March 1911 – 17 February 2006) was a German-born English writer of non-fiction and semi-autobiographical fiction books. She was a recipient of the Golden PEN Award. Early life She was born as Sybille Aleid Elsa von ...

, who would become her lover; the relationship lasted only a few years, but they remained lifelong friends.

Death

Murphy died on November 23, 1962, in Paris. Her ashes were returned to the United States on December 5, 1962 to her brother, Gerald Murphy.

Gallery

George Gardner Rockwood (1832-1911), between 1907 and 1910 File:John Drew & Esther.jpg, Esther Murphy Arthur as a girl with actor

John Drew Jr. John Drew Jr. (November 13, 1853 – July 9, 1927), commonly known as John Drew during his life, was an American stage actor noted for his roles in Shakespearean comedy, society drama, and light comedies. He was the eldest son of John Drew S ...

, between 1910 and 1915 File:Esther Murphy Arthur sitting outside on a chair.jpg, Esther Murphy Arthur sitting outside on a chair, 1923 File:Esther & Chester.jpg, Chester Arthur III ( Gavin Arthur), in uniform, and Esther Arthur sitting on a rock wall, 1942 File:Gavin, Janet, Esther, Solita.jpg, Gavin Arthur, standing, and Janet Flanner, Esther Murphy, and

sitting on a rock wall, between 1945 and 1955

Legacy

Lisa Cohen, ''All We Know: Three Lives'' (Farrar, Straus and Giroux; First Edition (July 17, 2012)) is the biography of three women: Esther Murphy, detailing early Murphy life and the Mark Cross family business; writer-feminist Mercedes de Acosta; and British Vogue fashion editor

. Cohen was intrigued by their invisibility: "if she is remembered at all today, it is as Gerald Murphy's eccentric, pathetic sister, a marvel who became a spectacular disappointment."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strachey, Esther Murphy 1897 births 1962 deaths American women historians 20th-century American historians American male non-fiction writers American socialites Radio personalities from New York City Historians from New York (state) LGBT people from New York (state) 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American male writers Arthur family