Classic Children's Authors and the Books They Wrote

Johanna Louise (Heusser) Spyri was the author of the classic children's book, Heidi, published in 1872. Heidi was the story of a young girl who came to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps after her parents died. The classic was famous for its detailed description of the landscape and its understanding of how children view life and struggle with their feelings.

Mrs. Spyri started writing while living in Zurich after her marriage, using the area around Chur in Graubunden as a setting for her novels. Her family spent their summers in that area when she was a child. She also wrote many other stories for both adults and children, although she was most famous for Heidi.

The two sequels Heidi Grows Up and Heidi's Children were written by Charles Tritten, Mrs. Spyri's English translator. The subtitle of the 1880 publication said it was a book written "for children and those who love children."

The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew was one of my favorite children's books. It is interesting to look back and read about the women who wrote my favorite classic books and what kind of life they lived.

Harriett Mulford Stone was born in 1844 in New Haven, Connecticut. Years later, when she sent several of her short stories to a children's magazine in Boston, two of the stories, "Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie" and "Phronsie Pepper's New Shoes" became very popular with readers. When Daniel Lothrop, the magazine's editor, requested more stories, Harriett began writing the Five Little Peppers as a series of books.

Not only was the series popular, so was Harriet and Daniel's attraction to one another. In 1881, they got married. He had founded the company that published her books under her pseudonym, Margaret Sidney.

Shortly after they were married, she and Daniel purchased the Concord, Massachusetts house both Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne had lived in. They nicknamed it The Wayside and moved into the house. A year later, at age 40, she gave birth to Margaret.

Daniel died when their daughter, Margaret, was barely nine-years-old. Harriett continued to run the publishing company he had founded, placing her own writing on hold. Later, she started writing again, finishing several more of the Five Little Peppers books.

Harriett loved to travel spending time overseas, although in her later years she spent her winters in California due to the climate. She died in 1924 at the age of 80 having written a total of 30 books. Daniel and Harriet's daughter led the charge to have their home, The Wayside, declared a national historical landmark, which it became in 1963.

Some of the stories about these classic children's books authors are fascinating reading. They lived an entirely different life than we do now, and the hardships they endured while pursuing their craft is amazing. I have all the respect in the world for those who succeeded despite great odds.

Born on November 24, 1849, Frances Hodgson Burnett was an English playwright and author.Frances came from an upper-class home and the family lived in comfort. They had a maid, nurse-maid, and a horse and carriage. She had two younger sisters and two older brothers. Shortly after moving to a large estate in 1852, her dad suddenly died of a stroke living the family without income. Her mother took over the family business leaving Frances in the care of her grandmother.

Fortunately for the little girl, her grandmother loved to read and enjoyed teaching Frances how to read. Due to her father's death, the family had to move to a new location where they could live with relatives. Frances enjoyed playing in the large enclosed garden on their land.

The Secret Garden

Having an active imagination, Frances started making up stories at an early age writing them down in an old notebook. Around 1863, the family moved to the United States where Frances' uncle lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. While the family was still struggling financially, Frances started writing to earn money. Her first story was published before she turned eighteen. She spent the rest of her life earning a living with her writing.

Frances had a long and prolific writing career, with The Secret Garden being published in 1911. She lived in England for a time, then moved back to the United States permanently in 1907. She spent her final 17 years in her home in Plandome, Long Island, New York. Frances died October 29, 1924. There is so much more to her story that I encourage anyone who is interested to read more about this prolific author and editor.