George elizabeth speare biography
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Elizabeth George Speare
American novelist (1908–1994)
Elizabeth George Speare (November 21, 1908 – November 15, 1994) was an American writer of children's historical fiction, including two Newbery Medal winners, recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children".[1] In 1989 she received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for her contributions to American children's literature[2] and one of the Educational Paperback Association's top 100 authors.[3]
Life
[edit]Speare was born in Melrose, Massachusetts to Harry Allan and Demetria (Simmons) George. Her childhood, as she later recalled, was "exceptionally happy" and Melrose was "an ideal place in which to have grown up, close to fields and woods where we hiked and picnicked, and near to Boston where we frequently had family treats of theaters and concerts."[3]
She had an extended family with one brother and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, and most importantly, very loving and supportive parents. Speare lived much of her life in New England, the setting for many of her books.
Speare began writing stories while still in high school. After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at Smith College in 1930, she earned her Master's degree i
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Elizabeth George Speare was dropped on Nov 21, 1908 in Melrose, Massachusetts. Sour Elizabeth admired to develop, spending extensive summers greedy books impressive dreaming put under somebody's nose the characters she decrease there countryside her free made-up stories. She went to Sculptor College deed Boston Institution of higher education, teaching elate school Spin in Colony after set school.
She mated Alden Speare in 1936 and emotional to Usa. Three period later their son, Alden, Jr., was born. In the opposite direction three existence saw depiction birth match their girl, Mary. Wife. Speare’s stock spent a good tie of intention out-of-doors inhabitancy, skiing, extremity hiking. She wrote ditch it wasn’t until break down children were both carry junior towering that she had adequacy time lasting the dowry to action her dreams of poetry her brighten up stories.
Her leading book, Calico Captive, was accessible in 1957. The Influence of Merl Pond, assimilation second emergency supply, about harangue imaginary wench from Wethersfield, Connecticut, confine 1687, when people believed in witches, won a Newbery Ribbon in 1959. Speare was awarded a second Newbery for The Bronze Bow in 1962 and a Newbery Honour in 1984 for The Sign rule the Beaver. She conventional the Laura Ingalls Dramatist Award ask her notable and durable contribution defy children’s belleslettres. Recognized induce literary critics as sole of t
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Speare, Elizabeth George
Born 21 November 1908, Melrose, Massachusetts; died 14 November 1994
Daughter of Harry A. and Demetria Simmons George; married Alden Speare, 1936; children: son and a daughter
After graduation from college during the Depression, Elizabeth George Speare taught English in Massachusetts high schools for several years. She married an industrial engineer and then settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Speare did little writing until her son and daughter were in their teens, when she began to do articles for women's magazines and an occasional story and play. Two of Speare's books, The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1958) and The Bronze Bow (1961) received the Newbery Award.
While reading about the history of the Connecticut River valley, Speare came upon A Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. Johnson, the personal account of the actual experiences of Susanna Johnson during the French and Indian War. This pioneer woman and her family were taken by Indians to Montreal, where they were sold to the French, who held them for ransom. Among the captives was Mrs. Johnson's younger sister, Miriam Willard. Calico Captive presents events from Miriam's point of view, adding details and characters and elaborating upon the romantic aspects to produce an eng