Mary Sidney

Mary Sidney Herbert (27 October 1561-1621), Countess of Pembroke, was one of the first significant English women to achieve a reputation for her literary works, translations and patronage.

Related Topics:
27 October - 1561 - 1621 - English - Literary - Translation

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Mary's brother was the poet, courtier and soldier Sir Philip Sidney, and she appears to have been devoted to him. At the time of his death in 1586, Philip was engaged in preparing a new English version the of Book of Psalms, and had completed 43 of the 150 psalms. Mary took on the task of completing the work, including revising Philip's versions, and a copy of the completed book was presented to Queen Elizabeth in 1599. The complete work is usually referred to as "The Sidney Psalms" or "The Sidneian Psalms", and is regarded as an important influence on the development of English poetry in the early 16th century. John Donne wrote a poem in celebration of them. They were made from previous English translations rather than the original Hebrew text, and are therefore properly called metaphrases rather than translations. Like Philip's, Mary's versions use a wide variety of poetic forms and display a vivid imagination and vigorous phrasing. Commentators have noted the influence of Calvinism, both in the text (which sometimes recalls the 1560 Geneva Bible) and in the ideas expressed.

Related Topics:
Philip Sidney - 1586 - Book of Psalms - Queen Elizabeth - 1599 - English poetry - 16th century - John Donne - Hebrew - Metaphrase - Poetic form - Calvinism - 1560 - Geneva Bible

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In 1577 Mary married Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke; they had four children. They lived at Wilton House in Wiltshire, which she made a salon-like centre of literary culture, known as The Wilton Circle. The Earl died in 1600, and after his death Mary played a large part in managing the estate. She died of smallpox.

Related Topics:
1577 - Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke - Wilton House - 1600 - Smallpox

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A theory has been proposed by American author, (not the actor), that Mary Sidney was in fact Shakespeare. According to Williams, had the motive, means and opportunity to write the plays. This theory is among many that claim Shakespeare was somebody other than a single man with a grammar school education.

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