Mary, Mary

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Mary, Mary

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Set in the impoverished slums of Dublin, this enchanting tale follows sixteen-year-old Mary Makebelieve and her proud charwoman mother. Blending folk-tale whimsy with gritty realism, the story explores how poverty fosters a unique freedom to find wonder in broken mirrors and stray ducks. When a mysterious fortune arrives, Mary must navigate love, loss, and the harsh realities of her neighborhood while retaining her imaginative spirit.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1910, James Stephens' *Mary, Mary* (also titled *The Charwoman's Daughter*) is a vibrant narrative set in the working-class districts of Dublin. The story follows Mary Makebelieve, a spirited sixteen-year-old, and her mother, Mrs. Makebelieve, a hardworking charwoman who scrubs floors and sews fine garments for the wealthy. Despite their destitution, the pair lives with an imaginative exuberance, finding adventure in everyday objects and viewing the city with a sense of wonder denied to the rich. As introduced by Padraic Colum, the novel captures Stephens' wit and his ability to portray the 'poet of Insurrections.' The plot unfolds through a series of chapters that mix domestic life with episodic adventures. Mrs. Makebelieve often fantasizes about sudden wealth, imagining deceased relatives leaving her fortunes, a daydream that contrasts sharply with the reality of their hunger and constant struggle to survive. The narrative introduces various characters from the Dublin underworld, including a policeman who becomes a significant figure in Mary's life and a young man whose existence is defined by hunger and bruises. Stephens uses these figures to explore themes of class, the nature of poverty, and the resilience of the human spirit. A pivotal moment occurs when Mrs. Makebelieve receives a letter claiming a vast inheritance from a deceased uncle in New York. After verifying the documents with solicitors, the family receives an advance, momentarily lifting them out of their dire circumstances. However, the story does not shy away from the complexities of their new reality. The young man, previously driven by hunger, finds himself adrift once his physical need is satisfied, illustrating Stephens' philosophy that hunger is often a better ally than fullness; satisfaction leads to greed and decay, whereas hunger fosters life and ambition. The narrative continues to weave through the streets of Dublin, observing the lives of the poor, the eccentricities of the wealthy, and the enduring magic of the city itself. The book concludes with a sense of open-ended adventure, suggesting that while fortunes may change, the spirit of the poor and the enchantment of the world remain constant. Through its folk-tale structure and imaginative exuberance, *Mary, Mary* presents a world where even a broken mirror or an old lamp holds the potential for adventure, celebrating the freedom found in poverty and the unique intimacy with the objects of one's daily life.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/james-stephens_mary-mary.epub

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data/epubs/url-5af2a48403521807.epub

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2026-06-29 23:48 UTC

Categories

• Fiction