The Times/1919/Obituary/Jean Middlemass

Miss Jean Middlemass

The death is announce, at the age of 85, at her residence in Eaton-terrace, of Miss Mary Jane Middlemass, one of the most prolific writers of popular fiction of the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

It would be difficult to state exactly how many books she wrote but it is doubtful if she was exceeded even by Miss Braddon, to whose school she may be reckoned as belonging. When she began to publish in the 'seventies her work was promptly recognized as most suitable for the young person fir it combined abundant excitement and profundity of mystery with the strictest correctitude of morals. Even the worst of her characters is never guilty of any but the more reputable forms of villainy, such as murder and forgery, which would never bring a blush to the most innocent cheek. Though in her later years Miss Middlemass's popularity suffered a decline, she maintained a considerable vogue and continued to publish until 1910, when her last novel, "At the Alter Steps." appeared.

Among her most popular works are "Touch and Go" (1877), "Innocence at Play" (1880), "Sealed by a Kiss" (1880), "A Girl in a Thousand" (1885), "A Woman's Calvary" (1903), and "Count Reminy" (1905).