American writer
Ellin Berlin (née Mackay, 22 March – 29 July ) was an American author. She was married to Irving Berlin.
Ellin's parents were financier Clarence Mackay, and Katherine Duer Mackay. She met Irving Berlin in Ellin's father opposed their relationship from the start. Irving wooed her with letters and songs over the airwaves such as "Remember" and "All Alone".[1]
They eloped and were married in a simple civil ceremony at the Municipal Building, away from media attention. Because Irving was Jewish and Ellin was an Irish Catholic, their life was followed in every possible detail by the press, which found the romance between a self-made Jewish immigrant from the Lower East Side and a young heiress to be a sensational story.[2]
For nearly three years Clarence Mackay refused to speak to the Berlins. They reconciled after the death of the Berlins' son, Irving Berlin Jr., on Christmas Day in , less than one month after he was born.[3] The Berlins were married for 63 years until her death in They had four children: Mary Ellin Barrett in ; Irving Berlin, Jr. in ; Linda Louise Emmet in ; and Elizabeth Irving Peters in [4]
Ellin Berlin wrote a number of articles for The New Yorker before her marriage. In she began writing short stories for the Saturday Evening Post and Ladies' Home Journal. In she published her first novel, Land I Have Chosen. This was followed by Lace Curtain (), Silver Platter (), and The Best of Families ().[5]
She was a member of the United States Assay Commission.[6]