Marriage As a Trade

Cicely Mary Hamilton (1872-1952), born Hammill, was an English actress, writer, journalist, suffragist and feminist. She is now best known for the play Diana of Dobson's. After a short spell in teaching she acted in a touring company. Then she wrote drama, including feminist themes, and enjoyed a period of success in the commercial theatre. In 1908 she founded with Bessie Hatton the Women Writers' Suffrage League. This grew to around 400 members. It produced campaigning literature and recruited many prominent male supporters. During World War I she initially worked in the organisation of nursing care, and then joined the army as an auxiliary. Later she formed a repertory company to entertain the troops. After the war, she wrote as a freelance journalist, particularly on birth control, and as a playwright for the Birmingham Repertory Company. Amongst her other works are Marriage as a Trade (1909), Jack and Jill and a Friend (1911), A Matter of Money (1916) and Full Stop (1931).