Margaret Thomson Janvier | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1844 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Died | 1913 Moorestown, New Jersey |
| Pen name | Margaret Vandegrift |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Poetry, children's literature |
| Relatives | Thomas Allibone Janvier (brother) |
Margaret Thomson Janvier (1840s – 1913) was an American poet and author of children's literature who published under the pseudonymMargaret Vandegrift.
Janvier was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Francis de Haes Janvier and Emma (Newbold) Janvier.[1] Her brother was the writerThomas Allibone Janvier.[2] She was initially educated at home and in the public school system before, in 1859, entering theMoravian Female Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[3] She lived most of her adult life in Moorestown, New Jersey.[4]
Beginning around 1880, Janvier published collections of poetry, adventure novels, short stories, and fairy tales for young readers.[4] Many of her adventure tales featured plucky protagonists — often girls — overcoming difficulties ranging from financial destitution to the death of a parent.[4] Critics of the era praised her as "a most charming entertainer of children".[5]E. B. Bensell illustrated two of her books.
In addition to publishing stand-alone books, Janvier wrote for popular periodicals such asSt. Nicholas Magazine,Harper's Young People, andCentury Magazine.[4] One of her poems, "Little Wild Baby", which implied a mixed-race relationship between a white man and a woman of color, was rejected by major literary periodicals of its day.[6]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
