Elizabeth Frances Corbett (September 30, 1887 – January 24, 1981) was an American writer of fiction, poems, and plays.[1]
Elizabeth Frances Corbett | |
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Born | 30 September 1887 ![]() Aurora ![]() |
Died | 24 January 1981 ![]() |
Occupation | Writer ![]() |
Corbett was known for her contemporary and historical fiction novels. Her books were published from the 1910s throughout the 1970s.[2][1] Her New York Times obituary noted "[f]or more than 50 years Miss Corbett wrote a succession of historical or period novels that were consistently popular, particularly among women. Reviewers often termed her nostalgic works ''entertaining'' and ''friendly'' without being ''significant'".[3]
Biography
editEarly life
editElizabeth Frances Corbett was born in Aurora, Illinois on September 30, 1887.[2]
She attended the Model Department of the Milwaukee State Normal School and later West Division High School.[4] She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1910.[4] She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[1][2]
Corbett lived in Milwaukee for much of her young adult life.[2][1]
Career
editCorbett completed her first book shortly after graduation, but it was not published.[5]
She was well known for her Mrs. Meigs series and the Graper Girls series.[2][1] Some of her Mrs. Meigs stories first appeared in The Century Magazine.[6] The Young Mrs. Meigs (1931) was met with critical acclaim.[7][8] Kirkus Reviews wrote of the second book in the series, A Nice Long Evening (1933), "Not as sparkingly original as its predecessor, but an entertaining story".[9] Kirkus reviewed the third entry in The Graper Girls series, Growing up with the Grapers (1934), as seeming to have "a distinct drop in quality".[10]
Her novels Mr. Underhill's Progress (1934) and The Constant Sex (1935) received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews. About Mr. Underhill's Progress, Kirkus wrote: "The Young Mrs. Meigs proved that Elizabeth Corbett had an uncanny perception of the mental and emotional processes of women much older than herself. Now comes Mr. Underhill, and in him she gets under the skin of an older man, a man at that indiscriminate age between fifty and sixty, neither old nor young and beginning to doubt the possibility of changing the pattern"[8] and wrote about The Constant Sex: "Elizabeth Corbett has not quite hit the high water mark of The Young Mrs. Meigs in her later books, but this is closer to it than the others. A good story...".[7]
With Immortal Helen (1947) Corbett had a new publisher, Doubleday, and a new genre, historical fiction.[11] Kirkus reviewed the sequel, Eve and Christopher (1948), noting, "[t]he decorative details here, and the clinches (on the buxom side for conservatives) gives this its romantic reader interest- for women only".[12]
Corbett's final novel was Sunday at Six (1971).[13]
Beliefs about writing
editIn a 1934 interview, Corbett offered career advice to writers, advising "anybody not to write if she can do anything else in the world" because "the writing career entails too many disappointments in its early stages. But if one really wants to write, she won't be happy doing anything else". She spoke against budding writers seeking out literary agents and instead suggested they send out their own work and face rejection slips. She thought an education was valuable to a writing career, but not necessarily writing courses. She thought the most important characteristics for a writer to have were imagination, an understanding of human nature, and a willingness to work hard. She believed character was much more important than plot; she developed her plots from characters' circumstances in strange situations.[5]
Personal life and death
editFollowing the death of her father in the 1920s, Corbett moved to New York City with her mother.[2][1]
Corbett died in her Greenwich Village apartment in Manhattan on January 24, 1981.[2][13][14] She is buried at Arlington Park Cemetery, Greenfield, Wisconsin.
Works
edit- Cecily and the Wide World: a Novel of American Life Today. 1916.[15][16][17]
- The Vanished Helga. 1918.[18][16]
- Puritan and Pagan. 1920.[19][16]
- The After Glow. 1925.[20]
- Walt: The Good Gray Poet Speaks for Himself. 1928.[21]
- If It Takes All Summer: The Life Story of Ulysses Grant. 1930.[22]
- After Five O'clock. 1932.[23]
- The House Across the River. 1934.[24][25]
- Mr. Underhill's Progress. 1934.[26][8]
- The Constant Sex. 1935.[27][7]
- The Queen's Holiday. 1940.[28]
- Faye's Folly. 1941.[29]
- Early Summer. 1942.[30][31]
- Golden Grain. 1943.[32][33]
- The Red-Haired Lady. 1945. [Autobiographical novel][34][35][1]
- Lady with Parasol. 1946.[36][37]
- Immortal Helen. 1947.[38][11][39]
- Eve and Christopher [sequel to Immortal Helen]. 1949.[1][12][40]
- The Duke's Daughter. 1950.[41][42]
- Portrait of Isabelle. 1951.[43]
- The Richer Harvest. 1952.[44][16][45]
- In Mrs. Armstrong's Room. 1953.[46][47][48]
- Family Portrait. 1955.[49][50]
- The Head of Apollo. 1956.[51][52]
- Professor Preston at Home. 1957.[53]
- The President's Wife. 1958.[54][55]
- Hamilton Terrace. 1960.[56][57]
- Hidden Island. 1961.[58][59]
- The Paige Girls. 1962.[60][61]
- Distant Princess. 1963.[62][63][64]
- The Heart of the Village. 1963.[65][66]
- Lisa Kennerley's Husband. 1964.[67][68][69]
- Anniversary: A Novel. 1964.[70]
- The Continuing City. 1965.[71][72][73]
- The Crossroads. 1965.[74]
- The Old Callahan Place. 1966.[75][76]
- Harry Martin's Wife. 1967.[77][78]
- The Kimball Collection. 1967.[79][80]
- Ladies' Day. 1968.[81][82]
- The Three Lives of Sharon Spence. 1969.[83][84]
- Hotel Belvedere. 1970.[85]
- The Wainwright Inheritance. 1972.[86][1][87]
- The Paige Girls. 1972.[88]
- Sunday at Six. 1971.[89][90]
Mrs. Meigs series
edit- The Young Mrs. Meigs. 1931.[91][47]
- A Nice Long Evening. 1933.[9][6][92]
- Mrs. Meigs and Mr. Cunningham. 1936.[93][94]
- She Was Carrie Eaton: A Novel about the Young Mrs. Meigs. 1938.[95]
- Mr. & Mrs. Meigs. 1940.[96][97]
- Excuse Me, Mrs. Meigs. 1943.[98][99]
- Our Mrs. Meigs. 1954. One volume containing The Young Mrs. Meigs, A Nice Long Evening, and Mrs. Meigs and Mr. Cunningham.[100]
The Graper Girls series
edit- The Graper Girls. Illustrated by Ruth King. 1931.[101]
- The Graper Girls Go to College. 1932.[102]
- Growing up with the Grapers. 1934.[103][10]
- Beth and Ernestine Graper. 1936.[104]
Mount Royal series
editSource:[1]
- Mount Royal: Chronicles of an American Town. 1936.[105][106]
- The Langworthy Family. 1937.[107][108]
- Light of Other Days: A Novel of Mount Royal. 1938.[109][110]
- Charley Manning. 1939.[111]
Memoir
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Corbett, Elizabeth Frances | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Illinois Center for the Book – Illinois Authors – Individual Author Record". www.illinoisauthors.org. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "Elizabeth Corbett". The New York Times. January 31, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Elizabeth F. Corbett Papers, 1883-1981" (Finding Aid), Milwaukee Public Library website. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ a b Ridings Miller, Hope. "Women need not grow old, author asserts". The Washington Post. January 29, 1934. Via ProQuest Historical Newspapers: U.S. Major Dailies. Pg. 11.
- ^ a b "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1933). A Nice Long Evening. Appleton-Century.
- ^ a b "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "Elizabeth Corbett". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1916). Cecily and the Wide World: A Novel of American Life Today. H. Holt.
- ^ a b c d "Corbett, Elizabeth Frances, 1887– | The Online Books Page". onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1954). Our Mrs. Meigs. Lippincott.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1918). The Vanished Helga. George H. Doran Company.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1920). Puritan and Pagan. Henry Holt.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1925). The After Glow.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1928). Walt: The Good Gray Poet Speaks for Himself. Frederick A. Stokes Company.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1930). "If it Takes All Summer": The Life Story of Ulysses Grant. Stokes.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1932). After Five O'clock. Century.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1934). The House Across the River. Reynal & Hitchcock.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1934). Mr. Underhill's Progress. Reynal & Hitchcock.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1935). The Constant Sex. Reynal & Hitchcock.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1940). The Queen's Holiday. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1941). Faye's Folly. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1942). Early Summer. D. Appletin-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1943). Golden Grain. Appleton-Century.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1945). The Red-haired Lady. Doubleday, Doran, Incorporated.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1946). Lady with Parasol. Doubleday.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1948). Immortal Helen. Doubleday.
- ^ Wisconsin Library Bulletin. Division of Library Services, Department of Public Instruction. 1947.
- ^ Hewitt-Myring, Philip (March 13, 1949). "Romantic Duo; Eve and Christopher by Elizabeth Corbett". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1950). The Duke's Daughter. Doubleday.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1951). Portrait of Isabelle. Lippincott.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1952). The Richer Harvest. Lippincott.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1953). In Miss Armstrong's Room. Lippincott.
- ^ a b "Library notes". Springfield Reporter. November 25, 1953. p. 26. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1955). Family Portrait. Lippincott.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1956). The Head of Apollo. Lippincott.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1957). Professor Preston at Home. Lippincott.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1958). The President's Wife. Lippincott.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1960). Hamilton Terrace. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1961). Hidden Island. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1962). The Paige Girls. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1963). The Distant Princess. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- ^ "New library books". Record-Journal. March 11, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1963). The Heart of the Village. Appleton-Century.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1964). Lisa Kennerley's Husband. Appleton-Century.
- ^ "Equally divided: 10 volumes added to county library". Centre Daily Times. April 3, 1964. p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1964). Anniversary. Appleton-Century.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1965). The Continuing City. Appleton-Century.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth (January 12, 1973). The Continuing City. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-345-20731-9.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1965). The Crossroads. Appleton-Century.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1966). The Old Callahan Place. Appleton-Century.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1967). Harry Martin's Wife. Meredith Press.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1967). The Kimball Collection. Beagle Book Incorporated.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1968). Ladies' Day. Meredith Press.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1969). The Three Lives of Sharon Spence. Meredith Press. ISBN 978-0-696-83430-1.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1970). Hotel Belvedere. Hawthorn Books.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1960). The Wainwright Inheritance. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth (December 12, 1972). The Paige Girls. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-345-20727-2.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1971). Sunday at Six. Hawthorn Books.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1931). The Young Mrs. Meigs. Century Company.
- ^ America. America Press. 1934.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1936). Mrs. Meigs and Mr. Cunningham. D. Appleton-Century Company, Incorporated.
- ^ Sherman, Beatrice (September 13, 1936). "Mrs. Meigs and Mr. Cunningham. By Elizabeth Corbett". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1938). She was Carrie Eaton: A Novel about the Young Mrs. Meigs. D. Appleton Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1940). Mr. and Mrs. Meigs. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth (April 12, 1973). Mr and Mrs Meigs. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-345-20759-3.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1943). Excuse Me, Mrs. Meigs. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1931). The Graper Girls ... Illustrated by Ruth King. New York & London.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1932). The Graper girls go to college.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1934). Growing Up with the Grapers. D. Appleton-Century Company.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1936). Beth and Ernestine Graper. D. Appleton-Century Company, Incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1936). Mount Royal: Chronicles of an American Town. Reynal & Hitchcock.
- ^ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1937). The Langworthy Family: A Novel of Mount Royal. London, D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ "New books and authors". Harrisburg Sunday Courier. November 7, 1937. p. 11. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1938). Light of Other Days: A Novel of Mount Royal. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1938). Light of Other Days. A Novel, Etc.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1939). Charley Manning. D. Appleton-Century Company, incorporated.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (1941). Out at the Soldier' Home: A Memory Book. Appleton-Century.
- ^ Corbett, Elizabeth Frances (May 15, 2008). Out at the Soldiers' Home: A Memory Book. ACTA Publications. ISBN 978-0-87946-363-2.
Further reading
edit- Titus, William A. Wisconsin writers, sketches and studies. 1930.