''The Marriage of William Ashe'' is a novel by

Mary Augusta Ward Mary Augusta Ward (''née'' Arnold; 11 June 1851 – 24 March 1920) was a British literature, British novelist who wrote under her married name as Mrs Humphry Ward. She worked to improve education for the poor and she became the founding Pres ...

that was the best-selling novel in the United States in 1905.(March 8, 1905)
Books of the Day - The Marriage of William Ashe
''Boston Evening Transcript'' Hackett, Alice Payne (1945)
''Fifty Years of Best Sellers, 1895-1945''
New York: R.R. Bowker Co., p. 21. It originally appeared in serial form in ''

Harper's Magazine ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. (''Scientific American'' is older, b ...

'' from June 1904 through May 1905, and was published in book form in March 1905.(February 4, 1905)
The Marriage of William Ashe
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' Illustrations were provided by

Albert Sterner Albert Edward Sterner (March 8, 1863 – December 16, 1946) was a British-American illustrator and painter. Early life Sterner was born to a Jewish family in London, and attended King Edward's School, Birmingham. After a brief period in Germany, ...

.(May 15, 1945)
Anything to Oblige Disapproving Author
''Milwaukee Journal''(March 11, 1905)
Mrs. Ward's New Book - "The Marriage of William Ashe" is another "Novel of Reincarnation"
''

'' The novel is loosely based on the lives of statesman William Lamb Melbourne and his eccentric wife

Lady Caroline Lamb Lady Caroline Lamb (née Ponsonby; 13 November 1785 – 25 January 1828) was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and novelist, best known for ''Glenarvon'', a Gothic novel. In 1812 she had an affair with Lord Byron, whom she described as "mad, bad, and ...

Plot

The novel is a story of English social and political life. William Ashe is a rich, handsome, and successful politician, and heir to the title of Earl of Tranmore. Ashe falls for Lady Kitty Bristol, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Madam d'Estrees, whose charm draws many influential men and overcomes any questions about her reputation. Ashe proposes to her just three weeks after they meet, and she accepts though she warns him that her temper and uncontrollable nature may cause him to regret asking. Three years later, the couple are settled in London, with Kitty heavily involved in the London social scene. They have one son, who is physically disabled. Kitty's social activities start to affect Ashe's political career; she strains Ashe's relationship with Lord Parham, the prime minister, and also flirts with the dashing but unprincipled Geoffrey Cliffe. After their child dies, Kitty is left a physical wreck and goes with Ashe to Italy to try to recover her health. Kitty meets Cliffe in Italy and runs off with him, while Ashe is in England trying to suppress a salacious book Kitty has written. Two years later, Ashe comes upon Kitty unexpectedly at a small inn in the Alps. Kitty has had many hardships, but dies in the comfort of Ashe's presence.Warner, Charles Dudley, ed
Warner's synopsis of books ancient and modern, Vol. II
584 (1910 edition)

Adaptations

Margaret Mayo adapted the novel into a play which debuted on Broadway at the

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play ...

in November 1905 featuring

Grace George Grace George (December 25, 1879 – May 19, 1961) was a prominent American stage actress, who had a long career on Broadway stage and also appeared in two films. Biography Grace George was born on December 25, 1879. She married producer Willia ...

and H. Reeves-Smith, and produced by George's husband William A. Brady.(November 22, 1905)
Mrs. Ward's Novel on the Stage As A Play
''

''(February 11, 1906)
The Marriage of William Ashe
''Minneapolis Journal'', p. 14, col. 2. It was first adapted to film in a 1916 British production directed by

Cecil Hepworth Cecil Milton Hepworth (19 March 1874 – 9 February 1953) was a British film director, producer and screenwriter. He was among the founders of the British film industry and continued making films into the 1920s at his Hepworth Studios. In ...

and starring

Henry Ainley Henry Hinchliffe Ainley (21 August 1879 – 31 October 1945) was an English actor. Life and career Early years Ainley was born in Morley, near Leeds, on 21 August 1879, the only son and eldest child of Richard Ainley (1851–1919), a textile ...

as William Ashe and

Alma Taylor Alma Louise Taylor (3 January 1895 – 23 January 1974) was a British actress. Life Taylor was born in London. She made her first screen appearance as a child actor in the 1907 film ''His Daughter's Voice''. She went on to appear in more th ...

as Kitty Bristol. A 1921 American silent film adaptation was directed by

Edward Sloman Edward Sloman (19 July 1886, London - 29 September 1972, Woodland Hills, California) was an English silent film director, actor, screenwriter and radio broadcaster. He directed over 100 films and starred in over 30 films as an actor between ...

and featured

Wyndham Standing Charles Wyndham Standing''Silent Film Necrology'', 2nd Edition by Eugene Michael Vazzana, c. 2001 page 497 (23 August 1880 – 1 February 1963) was an English film actor. Early years Standing was born in London, England and died in Los An ...

as Ashe and

May Allison May Allison (June 14, 1890 – March 27, 1989) was an American actress whose greatest success was achieved in the early part of the 20th century in silent films, although she also appeared on stage. Life and career Allison was born in Rising ...

as Bristol.American Film Institute Catalog - Feature Films 1921-1930
p. 495 (1971)

References

External links

''The Marriage of William Ashe'' at Project Gutenberg
*
''The Marriage of William Ashe''
full scan via Google Books * * (1916) * (1921) {{DEFAULTSORT:Marriage of William Ashe, The 1905 British novels 1905 plays Works originally published in Harper's Magazine Novels first published in serial form Novels set in England Novels by Mary Augusta Ward British novels adapted into films