author
Alexander Irvine
1863–1941
Raised in deep poverty in Antrim and shaped by work as a newsboy, miner, sailor, and soldier, this Irish-born writer turned a hard early life into vivid, humane books. His best-known work, My Lady of the Chimney Corner, helped bring the voice and texture of Ulster life to a wide readership.
2 Audiobooks
From the Bottom Up: The Life Story of Alexander Irvine
by Alexander Irvine
My Lady of the Chimney Corner
by Alexander Irvine
About the author
Born in Antrim, Ireland, in 1863, he grew up in a large, poor family with a Protestant father and a Catholic mother. Before becoming known as a writer, he worked at a string of jobs and spent time in the navy and the marines, experiences that later gave his books their grounded, first-hand feeling.
He emigrated to the United States in 1888 and eventually studied at Yale, later becoming a minister, speaker, and social reformer as well as an author. His life moved between preaching, public lecturing, and writing, and his work often returned to ordinary people, moral struggle, and the dignity of those on the margins.
His books include From the Bottom Up, an autobiographical account of his rise from poverty, and My Lady of the Chimney Corner, the novel most closely linked with his reputation. He died in 1941, but he is still remembered as a distinctive Irish voice whose work joined storytelling, social conscience, and a gift for memorable character.