Picture an Irish storyteller who spun tales of crumbling aristocratic estates with wicked wit and razor-sharp insight—meet Molly Keane! Born into the Anglo-Irish gentry, Keane transformed her insider’s view of 1920s and 1930s Ireland into novels and plays that still captivate readers. From her secret teenage scribbles to her triumphant return with the Booker Prize-nominated Good Behaviour, Keane’s life was as vibrant as her stories.
Her journey from a horse-loving, tuberculosis-stricken youth to a literary giant is a tale of resilience, reinvention, and a knack for exposing the quirks of high society. Let’s dive into the world of Molly Keane, where good manners hide deliciously dark secrets.
The Making of Molly Keane
Born Mary Nesta Skrine on July 20, 1904, in County Kildare, Ireland, Molly Keane grew up in the grand Ballyrankin House in County Wexford. Her father, Walter Skrine, was a horse-obsessed Englishman, while her mother, Agnes, wrote sentimental poetry as Moira O’Neill. Raised by governesses and later educated at a boarding school in Bray, Keane rebelled against the idea of an English education. At 17, bedridden with suspected tuberculosis, she began writing to escape boredom, penning her first novel, The Knight of Cheerful Countenance, under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell—a name inspired by a pub sign spotted after a hunt.
Writing as a woman in her conservative circle was scandalous, so Keane adopted her pseudonym to dodge judgment. Her early works, blending humor and social critique, captured the Anglo-Irish world of fox hunts, grand balls, and fading fortunes, setting the stage for her unique voice.
Molly Keane’s Unforgettable Stories
Keane’s novels and plays, often written as M.J. Farrell, are masterclasses in satire and character. Her debut, The Knight of Cheerful Countenance (1928), poked fun at the romanticized struggles of the gentry. Devoted Ladies (1934) boldly explored lesbianism in fashionable London, showcasing her willingness to tackle taboo topics with wit. Between 1928 and 1956, she published 11 novels and several plays, collaborating with luminaries like John Gielgud, who directed her works in the 1930s.
After her husband Bobby’s sudden death in 1946, Keane fell silent for nearly two decades, raising her two daughters and retreating to County Waterford. Her comeback in 1981 with Good Behaviour, published under her real name, was a sensation. This dark comedy, narrated by the deluded Aroon St. Charles, dissects a dysfunctional Anglo-Irish family with biting humor. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it was praised as a “classic among English novels” by The New York Times. Later works like Time After Time (1983) and Loving and Giving (1988) continued her exploration of family dynamics and societal decay, cementing her reputation as a literary force.
Keane’s style—lyrical, sensual, and darkly funny—brings the Anglo-Irish world to life. Her characters, flawed and unforgettable, navigate a society clinging to tradition amid inevitable change. Maggie O’Farrell lauded her for capturing the “thorny, fraught” mother-daughter bond with unmatched skill.
Why Molly Keane Matters
Molly Keane’s legacy lies in her unflinching portrayal of a vanishing Anglo-Irish aristocracy. Her novels, once dismissed as nostalgic, are now celebrated for subverting the “Big House” genre with corrosive wit. She influenced writers like Muriel Spark and Iris Murdoch, and her work remains a touchstone for those exploring class, identity, and Irish history. Keane’s ability to blend humor with tragedy ensures her stories resonate across generations.
Her revival in the 1980s, sparked by actress Peggy Ashcroft’s encouragement to publish Good Behaviour, proved her timeless appeal. Today, her novels are reissued by Virago Press and NYRB Classics, and the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award honors her enduring influence in Ireland.
- Born: July 20, 1904, County Kildare, Ireland
- Died: April 22, 1996, Ardmore, County Waterford
- Key Works: Good Behaviour, Time After Time, Loving and Giving
- Awards: Shortlisted for the 1981 Booker Prize, member of Aosdána
Snag Good Behaviour and dive into Molly Keane’s wickedly witty world of crumbling estates and sharp-tongued heroines!