Velia Margaret Ercole (1903 – 20 July 1978) was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She wrote as Velia Ercole and, following her marriage, sometimes used the pseudonym, Margaret Gregory. In all, she wrote 12 novels and numerous short stories.

Early life and education

Velia Margaret Ercole was born in 1903 at White Cliffs, New South Wales to Adele (née Veron) and Dr Quinto Ercole.[1] The family moved to Grenfell, where her father practiced medicine and Ercole attended the local St. Joseph's Convent School.[2] She subsequently passed the Intermediate exams at the Dominican Convent School, Moss Vale, achieving top passes in English, history and music, while also passing mathematics II, Latin and French;[3] and received the Leaving Certificate for passes in mathematics, French and modern history and honours in English.[4]

Career

Ercole worked as a journalist for the Sydney Sun newspaper in the 1920s,[5] while contributing short stories to The Bulletin (1925–1937) and the Australian Woman's Mirror (1928–1940).[6]

Ercole wrote many short stories which were published in Australia in The Triad (1925–1927), Smith's Weekly (1924–1933) and The Australian Women's Weekly (1939–1948).[7][8][9] Her stories were also published in Canada in Maclean's, Table Talk (1932–1937).[8]

Ercole in 1930

Her first novel was highly commended in The Bulletin's novel competition of 1930. It appeared in that journal in serial form, prior to publication in England by Thornton Butterworth in 1932.[10]

She married army officer Eric Gregory in England in 1934.[11] They lived in London and Dorset prior to World War II. She returned to London where she contributed to the war effort by rescuing people during the Blitz.[12]

Ercole and her first book, No Escape, were included in Colin Roderick's 1947 book, Twenty Australian Novelists, alongside Christina Stead and Seven Poor Men of Sydney and Ernestine Hill and My Love Must Wait.[13][14]

Ercole died in England on 20 July 1978.[15]

Selected works

  • No Escape (1932)
  • Dark Windows (1934)
  • Marriage Made on Earth (1939)
  • Marriage by Ordeal (1941)
  • This Life to Live (1944)
  • The Bright Safety (1946)
  • Summer Tempest (1947)
  • Interference (1949)
  • Winds of Autumn (1950)
  • At the Hotel Revera (1952)
  • Two Summers (1954)
  • Bridal Wreath (1956)

References

  1. ^ Redy, Kim (2019-01-11). "Velia Ercole, scrittrice di successo in Australia, era abruzzese". Giornale di Montesilvano (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  2. ^ "St. Joseph's Convent School". The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser. Vol. XLVIII, no. 2625. New South Wales, Australia. 18 December 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Intermediate Exam". The Catholic Press. No. 1208. New South Wales, Australia. 20 February 1919. p. 14. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Leaving Certificate". The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser. Vol. XLVI, no. 3318. New South Wales, Australia. 7 February 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Velia Ercole". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  6. ^ "A Woman's Letter". The Bulletin. 51 (2648): 39. 1930-11-12 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "1920s". Australian Women Writers Challenge. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  8. ^ a b "1930s A-L". Australian Women Writers Challenge. 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  9. ^ "1940s". Australian Women Writers Challenge. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  10. ^ "No Escape". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  11. ^ "From China to Peru". The Bulletin. 55 (2830): 33. 1934-05-09 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "Answers to Correspondents". The Australian Woman's Mirror. 22 (38). 1946-08-07. Retrieved 2025-03-23 – via Trove.
  13. ^ Roderick, Colin (1947), 20 Australian novelists, Angus and Robertson, retrieved 23 March 2025
  14. ^ "Monday musings on Australian literature: Twenty Australian novelists in 1947". Whispering Gums. 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  15. ^ Velia Margaret Gregory, National Probate Records Search
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velia_Ercole
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