Helen Mary Gaskell (née Melville), CBE, known as May Gaskell (1853–1940) was a society hostess and philanthropist in London who established the British War Library.[1]
Gaskell was a "vivacious but unhappily married society hostess who belonged to the aristocratic circle of friends known as the 'Souls'": she had platonic relationship with the artist Edward Burne-Jones, who wrote her up to six letters a day and painted a famous portrait of her daughter Amy.[2] The letters were only discovered in 2005, when May's great-grandchild Josceline Dimbleby wrote a book about the affair, called "A Profound Secret".[3] Burne-Jones also painted May herself.[4][5]
Gaskell founded the War Library in 1914[6] and remained actively involved as its Honorary Secretary throughout the war.[7][1]
Despite moving in similar circles, she was no relation to Elizabeth Gaskell.[8][9]
- ^ a b Haslam, Sara (28 March 2018). "Reading, Trauma and Literary Caregiving 1914–1918: Helen Mary Gaskell and the War Library". Journal of Medical Humanities. 41 (3): 305–321. doi:10.1007/s10912-018-9513-5. PMC 7343721. PMID 29594635.
- ^ Dorment, Richard (13 April 2004). "Fruit of a forbidden passion". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Dimbleby, J. 2004. A Profound Secret: May Gaskell, her daughter Amy, and Edward Burne-Jones. London, UK: Doubleday.
- ^ "Portrait of Helen Mary Gaskell by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Pre Raphaelite Art: Edward Burne-Jones – portrait of Helen Mary Gaskell". Pre Raphaelite Art. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Gaskell, H.M. 1918. The Red Cross and Order of St John War Library. London, UK: British Red Cross Society.
- ^ McLaren, B. 1917. “Mrs Gaskell, C.B.E., and The Hon. Mrs Anstruther.” In: Women of the War, 91-97. London, UK: Hodder and Stoughton.
- ^ "Helen Mary Gaskell". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Elizabeth Gaskell". geni_family_tree.