author
Mrs. Hamilton Norway
d. 1932
Best known for a vivid eyewitness account of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, this writer turned private family letters into a memorable piece of history. Her work stands out for its close-up view of dramatic events unfolding around the General Post Office.
1 Audiobook
The Sinn Fein Rebellion as I Saw It.
by Mrs. Hamilton Norway
About the author
Mary Louisa Hamilton Norway, also known as Mrs. Hamilton Norway, is associated with The Sinn Fein Rebellion as I Saw It, first published in 1916. Reliable book and library records identify her as Mary Louisa Norway, and later editions describe the book as a series of letters written during Easter Week in Dublin.
She was staying at the Royal Hibernian Hotel on Dawson Street and was especially well placed to witness the Easter Rising at close quarters. Her husband, Arthur Hamilton Norway, served as Secretary of the General Post Office in Ireland, giving her unusual proximity to one of the central locations in the rebellion.
Although not a widely documented literary figure beyond this work, her book has lasted because it offers a direct, personal view of a major historical moment. That immediacy gives her writing much of its appeal: it reads less like distant history and more like someone trying to make sense of events as they happen.