Blanche Girouard

Lady Blanche Maud de la Poer Beresford Girouard (13 October 1898-29 September 1940) was an Irish journalist and writer. She was the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Waterford.

Life

She was born Lady Blanche Maud de la Poer Beresford to the 6th Marquess of Waterford, Henry de la Poer Beresford, and Lady Beatrix Frances Petty-FitzMaurice on 13 October 1898 in London. She grew up in Curraghmore, Portlaw, County Waterford. Girouard married Major Richard Desiré Girouard on 26 October 1927 at Westminster Cathedral. They had three children, one of whom is the historian and writer Mark Girouard. Girouard died as the result of a car accident in 1940 and is buried in Molesey Cemetery, Surrey. She made the news in 1929 when she converted to Catholicism.

Girouard wrote novels and short stories. She was also a contributor to newspapers like the The Evening News (London newspaper). A book of her stories and one novel were published before she died. A reviewer in Brisbane described the novel thus: "as to the manner of the writing there is only one verdict possible; It is a thing of beauty, the beauty of pure language, of poetic thought, and of idyllic Imagery". The writing style of her book of stories received similar praise.

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