Katherine Mansfield

Date of Birth: October 14, 1888

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: January 9, 1923

Biography

Katherine Mansfield, born Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp, was a prominent modernist short story writer from New Zealand. She was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand. Mansfield was known for her innovative approach to narrative structure and her keen psychological insights, which have made her one of the most influential short story writers of the early 20th century. Mansfield’s early education took place in New Zealand, but she moved to London in 1903 to attend Queen’s College. It was in London that she became deeply involved in the literary circles of the time, interacting with notable figures such as D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. Her writing career began in earnest in 1910 when she started publishing stories in various literary magazines. Katherine Mansfield’s work is characterized by its delicate prose, keen observations of human behavior, and a focus on the lives of women. Some of her most famous works include “The Garden Party,” “The Doll’s House,” and “Bliss.” Her stories often explore themes of social class, loneliness, and the fleeting nature of happiness. Despite her literary success, Mansfield’s life was marked by personal struggles, including a tumultuous marriage to John Middleton Murry and a long battle with tuberculosis. She spent her final years seeking treatment for her illness in various European countries, ultimately succumbing to the disease on January 9, 1923, in Fontainebleau, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Katherine Mansfield

1. Katherine Mansfield was a close friend of Virginia Woolf, who admired her writing and considered her a rival.

2. Mansfield was influenced by the works of Anton Chekhov and often cited him as a major inspiration for her own writing.

3. She published her first collection of short stories, “In a German Pension,” in 1911, which was largely based on her experiences in Germany.

4. Mansfield’s health declined rapidly due to tuberculosis, and she sought treatment in various places, including Switzerland and France.

5. Her final resting place is in the Cimetière d’Avon in Fontainebleau, France, where her tombstone is inscribed with a quote from Shakespeare’s play “Henry IV, Part 1.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Katherine Mansfield

1. “Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”

2. “Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different.”

3. “The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books.”

4. “Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back.”

5. “Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Katherine Mansfield’s net worth during her lifetime was not substantial. As an author in the early 20th century, her earnings were modest, and she did not achieve significant financial success from her writing.