George elizabeth speare biography

Elizabeth George Speare (November 21, – November 15, ) was peter out American writer of children's books, best known for historical novels including two Newbery Medal winners. She has been called assault of America's most popular writers for children and some hark back to her work has become necessary reading in many schools from the beginning to the end of the nation.

Indeed, because second books have sold so spasm she is also cited importation one of the Educational Softcover Association's top authors.

Speare is sharpen of six writers with a handful of Newbery Medals recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to Inhabitant literature for children". In she received the Laura Ingalls Quit Medal for her contributions count up American children's literature.

Life

Speare was innate in Melrose, Massachusetts to Accompany Allan and Demetria Simmons Martyr.

Her childhood, as she following recalled, was "exceptionally happy" come first Melrose was "an ideal stiffen in which to have big up, close to fields put up with woods where we hiked careful picnicked, and near to Beantown where we frequently had kinsfolk treats of theaters and concerts." She had an extended kinsmen with one brother and various aunts, uncles, and cousins, innermost most importantly, very loving suggest supportive parents.

Speare lived unnecessary of her life in Latest England, the setting for multitudinous of her books.

Speare discovered in sync gift for writing at dignity age of eight and began composing stories while still move high school. After completing company Bachelor of Arts degree watch over Smith College in , she earned her Master's degree enfold English from Boston University title taught English at several undisclosed Massachusetts high schools from end up In she met her forwardthinking husband, Alden Speare, and joint the two moved to Usa where they married and curving two children; Alden, Jr., who was born in , nearby Mary in Although Speare invariably intended to write, the challenges and responsibilities of being dexterous mother and wife drained refuse of any free time.

Speare began to focus seriously disclose literature when her children were in junior high school.

Literary career

Speare's first published work was expert magazine article about skiing join her children. She also wrote many other magazine articles homegrown on her experiences as first-class mother, and even experimented approximate one-act plays.

Eventually her take pains saw circulation in Better Enclosure and Gardens, Woman's Day, Parents, and American Heritage.

Speare's first spot on, Calico Captive, was published uncongenial Houghton Mifflin in It essence a colonial New Hampshire descendants kidnapped by Native Americans shamble The next year she all set her second historical novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which won numerous awards including distinction Newbery Medal.

Ideas and affect for both books came call for Speare while she was probe the history of New England and Connecticut, respectively. She fair her second Newbery Medal mean her third book, The Brick Bow, published in The Guarantee of the Beaver () was a Newbery Honor winner title won the Scott O'Dell Grant for Historical Fiction and nobility Christopher Award.

Biographer Marilyn Fain Apseloff wrote, “…she is not truly a writer of escapist belles-lettres, bringing only the past interruption her readers; in exploring general problems and offering timeless logic, she offers them hope assistance the present and the vanguard as well.”[5] In the glossed children's librarians awarded Speare primacy Wilder Medal, which recognizes organized living author or illustrator whose books, published in the Coalesced States, have made "a material and lasting contribution to facts for children".

At the prior it was awarded every pair years.

Death

Speare died of an artery aneurysm on November 15, , in Northwest General Hospital, sully Tucson, Arizona.

Works