Susan Coolidge
Susan Coolidge, the pen name of Sarah Chauncey Woolsey, was an influential American children's author known for her engaging and heartfelt stories. Born in 1835, she grew up in a family that valued education and literature, which fostered her early love for writing. Her most notable work, 'What Katy Did,' published in 1872, introduced readers to the spirited character of Katy Carr, a young girl whose adventures and misadventures resonated with children and parents alike. The book's themes of resilience, personal growth, and the importance of family made it a beloved classic in children's literature. Coolidge's writing was characterized by its warmth and relatability, often drawing from her own experiences and the challenges faced by young girls. She wrote several sequels to 'What Katy Did,' including 'What Katy Did at School' and 'What Katy Did Next,' which further explored Katy's journey and the values of kindness and perseverance. Coolidge's work not only entertained but also provided moral lessons, making her a significant figure in the genre of children's literature. Her legacy endures through her contributions to the field, inspiring generations of readers and writers alike, and she is remembered as a pioneer who captured the complexities of childhood with grace and insight.
Famous Quotes
View all 3 quotes“She read all sorts of things: travels, and sermons, and old magazines. Nothing was so dull that she couldn't get through with it. Anything really interesting absorbed her so that she never knew what was going on about her. The little girls to whose houses she went visiting had found this out, and always hid away their story-books when she was expected to tea. If they didn't do this, she was sure to pick one up and plunge in, and then it was no use to call her, or tug at her dress, for she neither saw nor heard anything more, till it was time to go home.”
“To-morrow I will begin," thought Katy, as she dropped asleep that night. How often we all do so! And what a pity it is that when morning comes and to-morrow is to-day, we so frequently wake up feeling quite differently; careless or impatient, and not a bit inclined to do the fine things we planned overnight.”
“I mean to do something grand. I don't know what, yet; but when I'm grown up I shall find out.Perhaps,it will be rowing out in boats, and saving peoples' lives,like that girl in the book. Or perhaps I shall go and nurse in the hospital, like Miss Nightingale. Or else I'll head a crusade and ride on a white horse, with armor and a helmet on my head, and carry a sacred flag. Or if I don't do that, I'll paint pictures,or sing, or scalp – sculp – what is it? you know – make figures in marble. Anyhow it shall be something.”
Books from the author
