- Jane Austen
Jane Austen wrote six novels, which have had many adaptions for TV and film. Among these books are “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” Born in 1775, Austen received a high education as a child. She spent much time reading, and of course, writing. Austen wrote short stories, poems and plays, which she also would act out for her family.
“Sense and Sensibility,” originally titled “Elinor and Marianne,” was Austen’s first book that she began writing when she was around 20-years-old. Austen faced difficulties with publishers before her books were actually published. “Sense and Sensibility” was eventually published in 1811 and had sold out of all its first editions by 1813, when “Pride and Prejudice” was published. Austen continued to write and publish more books until her death in 1817. Her books “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion” were published after her death. Austen’s identity as the author, which had previously been unknown, was also later revealed to the world by her brother.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe
An author best known for her work, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Harriet Beecher Stowe showed her writing talent from a young age and received a proper education. She also paid close attention to topics on issues that faced America. As a young woman, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with her father where she met her husband.
Stowe suffered greatly due to the loss of her young son from an illness. She explained that this experience was one of the reasons she began writing “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” as she imagined what enslaved mothers experienced when being separated from their own children. Stowe also assisted her brother at the school he opened for former slaves after the Civil War ended. During her life, she continued to write more books and made efforts to help with important issues. She lived in Hartford, Connecticut for twenty-three years as she did much of this work.
- Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was born in Philadelphia on November 29, 1832. Well-known for her book, “Little Women,” Alcott had a similar family life to her characters, the March sisters, as her parents had four daughters themselves. She spent much time reading and writing in her childhood years and learned from her father as well as notable figures such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Alcott spent time living in Boston and Concord, Massachusetts, and later Washington D.C. as she was a nurse during the Civil War.
As early as 1851, Alcott began publishing different forms of writing, but under a name different than her own. “Little Women” was published in 1868 but was originally released in smaller stories before it was later made into a single book that is found today. This book had similar themes from Alcott’s personal life and made her very successful. She wrote other popular books after this. Alcott also took part in the fight for women’s right to vote. She died in 1888 when she was 56-years-old.
- Emily Bronte
Born in Yorkshire, England on July 30, 1818, Emily Bronte wrote only one book in her career, “Wuthering Heights.” As a child, a majority of her education took place at home. Her parents both had their own written works and her father even had some publications. Bronte worked as a teacher for a short time in 1838. She and her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, all wrote poetry and published their works together in 1846, but just two sales were made.
It is not certain as to when Bronte started writing “Wuthering Heights,” but the book was published in December of 1847. It was not received positively when it was first published, but it later became a popular classic. Bronte became very ill the following year and passed away after contracting tuberculosis.
- Charlotte Bronte
Charlotte Bronte was born on April 21, 1816. She experienced childhood similarly to her sister. She participated in creative play and storytelling with her sisters. As her mother and later, two older sisters, passed away when she was young, she felt responsibility on her shoulders. She worked in jobs such as a teacher and governess to help support her family. She also experienced periods of depression in her life.
Bronte wrote different poems and stories throughout her career. Her most well-known book, “Jane Eyre,” was published in 1847. She also wrote “Shirley,” which was published in 1849. Bronte experienced hardship as she dealt with the deaths of her three remaining siblings from September 1848 to May 1849. She was married in 1954 and not long later became pregnant. She had a very rough time with morning sickness and passed away on March 31, 1855.
- L. M. Montgomery
Lucy Maude (L. M.) Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874 on Prince Edward Island. Her mother died when she was very young and her father sent her to live with her grandparents. Throughout her childhood, Montgomery spent much time using her imagination and writing. This area of her life is reflected in her famous novel, “Anne of Green Gables,” which follows the character Anne Shirley, an orphan who comes to live with an aging couple in the fictional place, Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island.
Montgomery worked as a teacher for a short period as an adult, but lived with her grandmother for many years after the death of her grandfather. She spent much time writing – both poetry and stories, which provided her with funds. “Anne of Green Gables” proved to be an instant success when it was published in 1908. Montgomery later married and moved to Ontario, where she had three sons. She passed away on April 24, 1942, though the reason for her death is not quite known. She was laid to rest on Prince Edward Island.
Rebekah Davidson
Intern