Mary Manning (writer)

In 1935 Manning moved to Boston, Massachusetts. There she later met and married lawyer [[Mark de Wolfe Howe (historian)|Mark De Wolfe Howe]], who had clerked for Chief Justice [[Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.|Oliver Wendell Holmes]]. When married to him, Mary continued to work by writing plays and three novels.<ref name="Mary" /> After World War II, Mark De Wolfe Howe became part of the faculty at [[Harvard Law School]], his alma mater, and the official biographer of Holmes.

In 1935 Manning moved to Boston, Massachusetts. There she later met and married lawyer [[Mark de Wolfe Howe (historian)|Mark De Wolfe Howe]], who had clerked for Chief Justice [[Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.|Oliver Wendell Holmes]]. When married to him, Mary continued to work by writing plays and three novels.<ref name="Mary" /> After World War II, Mark De Wolfe Howe became part of the faculty at [[Harvard Law School]], his alma mater, and the official biographer of Holmes.

The couple had three daughters: [[Susan Howe|Susan]], [[Fanny Howe|Fanny]], and Helen. [[Susan Howe]] became a poet, scholar and critic. In the summer of 1936, Mary Manning had a brief affair with Samuel Beckett, which led to a rumour that he was the biological father of her eldest daughter, Susan. Susan Howe herself has stated that DNA tests show Beckett was not her father.<ref>https://www.the-tls.co.uk/lives/biography/becketts-children-michael-coffey-book-review-w-j-davies</ref> [[Fanny Howe]] also achieved notability as a poet.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garcia Roberts |first=Chloe |title=The Art of Poetry No. 118 |journal=The Paris Review |issue=252 |pages=135 |quote=Howe's immense body of work–twenty-five books of poetry, twelve novels, two pulp romances, three books of essays, two collections of short stories, one book of prose rearranged from books past, six works of young adult fiction, and six short films–is [...] a sort of existential wilderness.}}</ref>

The couple had three daughters: [[Susan Howe|Susan]], [[Fanny Howe|Fanny]], and Helen. [[Susan Howe]] became a poet, scholar and critic. In the summer of 1936, Mary Manning had a brief affair with Samuel Beckett, which led to a rumour that he was the biological father of her eldest daughter, Susan. Susan Howe herself has stated that DNA tests show Beckett was not her father.<ref>https://www.the-tls.co.uk/lives/biography/becketts-children-michael-coffey-book-review-w-j-davies</ref> [[Fanny Howe]] also achieved notability as a poet.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garcia Roberts |first=Chloe |date=2025 |title=The Art of Poetry No. 118 |journal=The Paris Review |issue=252 |pages=135 |quote=Howe's immense body of work–twenty-five books of poetry, twelve novels, two pulp romances, three books of essays, two collections of short stories, one book of prose rearranged from books past, six works of young adult fiction, and six short films–is [...] a sort of existential wilderness.}}</ref>

Manning continued her creative activities beyond the family. During World War II, she worked as drama director at [[Radcliffe College]].<ref name="Irishwriters"/><ref name="Ricorso"/>

Manning continued her creative activities beyond the family. During World War II, she worked as drama director at [[Radcliffe College]].<ref name="Irishwriters"/><ref name="Ricorso"/>