Blanche Mary Channing
American writer of children's literature (1860–1902)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blanche Mary Channing (February 26, 1860 – August 9, 1902) was a poet and writer of juvenile fiction.
Blanche Mary Channing | |
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| Born | February 26, 1860 |
| Died | August 9, 1902 (aged 42) |
| Resting place | Prospect Hill Cemetery (Brattleboro, Vermont) |
| Occupation | Poet and writer |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Relatives | William Henry Channing (father) Francis Channing, 1st Baron Channing of Wellingborough (brother) |
Early life
Blanche Mary Channing was born on February 26, 1860.[1] She was the daughter of Julia Maria (née Allen) and William Henry Channing, a Unitarian clergyman in England and America.[2][3][4][5] Her brother was Francis Allston Channing, later the 1st Baron Channing of Wellingborough and a member of the British Parliament.[6][7]
Her great-uncle was William Ellery Channing the foremost Unitarian preacher in the 19th century.[8][3] Other notable greatuncles include physician and Harvard professor Walter Channing and Havard professor of rhetoric Edward Tyrrel Channing. In addition, her first cousin once-removed was the transcendentalist poet William Ellery Channing.
Career
Channing was a writer and poet, known for her children's books.[8][2][3] Her poems were popular during the Spanish–American War era[4] and were published in Time magazine and newspapers such as The Boston Journal.[9][10] Her last novel for children, The Balaster Boys, was released shortly before her death in 1902.[3][11][12]
However, her children's books Zodiac Stories (1899), Winifred West (1901), and Lullaby Castle and Other Poems (1902) were her best-known works.[8][13][14][15] She also provided illustrations to go with Zodiac Stories, a short story collection that explored the customs from different countries.[16][17]
Personal life
Channing lived in Brookline, Massachusetts.[8] She was involved in the anti-vivisection movement to protect animals[8] and was considered an "intensely religious Liberal".[4] She died on August 9, 1902, in the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from an illness after being chilled during a boating outing in Nahant a few weeks prior.[8][2] Her funeral was held at Emmanual Church on Newberry Street in Boston on August 12, 1902.[2][3] She was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro, Vermont.[6]
Publications
- Zodiac Stories. Blanche Mary Channing, illustrator. New York: E. P. Dutton & Company (1899)[17]
- Winifred West, A Story. Chase Emerson, illustrator. Boston: W. A. Wilde Company, 1901.[12]
- Lullaby Castle and Other Poems. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1901.
- The Balaster Boys. Frank T. Merrill, illustrator. Boston: W. A. Wilde Company, 1902.[3][11][12]