The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit : Victorian Iconoclast, Children's Author, and Creator of The Railway Children

Award-winning biographer Fitzsimons uncovers the little-known details of Nesbit's life, introducing readers to the Fabian Society cofounder and fabulous socialite who hosted legendary parties and had admirers by the dozen, including George Bernard Shaw.;Edith Nesbit is considered the first modern writer for children and the inventor of the children's adventure story. Fitzsimons uncovers the little-known details of her life, introducing readers to the Fabian Society cofounder and socialite who hosted legendary parties and had admirers by the dozen, including George Bernard Shaw. Through Nesbit's letters and archival research, we learn she was a prolific lecturer and writer on socialism, and incorporated these ideas into her writing, influencing a generation of children. -- adapted from jacket;Introduction -- The mummies of Bordeaux -- "Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell, content!" -- "Dim light of funeral lamps" -- "A particularly and peculiarly masculine person" -- "More like a lover than a husband" -- "A committed if eccentric socialist" -- The summer of Shaw -- The mouse moves in -- "How was her fancy caught?" -- "A charming little socialist and literary household" -- "Dramatic entertainment at New-Cross" -- "The Medway, with the Psammead" -- "Isn't it a dear little place?" -- "My son; my little son, the house is very quiet" -- "Always surrounded by adoring young men" -- "Ernest, I've come to stay" -- I want the plain naked unashamed truth" -- "Votes for women? Votes for children! Votes for dogs!" -- "A curtain, thin as gossamer" -- "I am not hurt" -- "A handyman of the sea" -- "Time with his make-up box of lines and wrinkles" . A Sunday Times Best Book of the Year: The "informative and entertaining" first major biography of the trailblazing, controversial children's author ( The Washington Post ). Born in 1858, Edith Nesbit is today considered the first modern writer for children and the inventor of the children's adventure story. In The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit , award-winning biographer Eleanor Fitzsimons uncovers the little-known details of her life, introducing readers to the Fabian Society cofounder and fabulous socialite who hosted legendary parties and had admirers by the dozen, including George Bernard Shaw. Through Nesbit's letters and archival research, Fitzsimons reveals "E." to have been a prolific lecturer and writer on socialism and shows how Nesbit incorporated these ideas into her writing, thereby influencing a generation of children—an aspect of her literary legacy never before examined. Fitzsimons's riveting biography brings new light to the life and works of this remarkable writer and woman. "Meticulous and invaluable...exceptionally illuminating and detailed." — The Wall Street Journal "Fitzsimons handily reassembles the hundreds of intricate, idiosyncratic parts of the miraculous E. Nesbit machine." — The New York Times Book Review "I've always loved the work of E. Nesbit— The Railway Children and Five Children and It are my favorites—but I knew nothing about the extraordinary, surprising life of this great figure in children's literature . . . so gripping that I read [it] in two days." —Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times- bestselling author of The Happiness Project "A charming, lively, and old-fashioned biography . . . highly readable." — Publishers Weekly "A terrific book." —Neil Gaiman The first major biography of the trailblazing and controversial childrens author E. Nesbit Edith Nesbit (18581924) is considered the first modern writer for children and the inventor of the childrens adventure story. In The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit , award-winning biographer Eleanor Fitzsimons uncovers the little-known details of her life, introducing readers to the Fabian Society cofounder and fabulous socialite who hosted legendary parties and had admirers by the dozen, including George Bernard Shaw. Through Nesbits letters and archival research, Fitzsimons reveals E. to have been a prolific lecturer and writer on socialism and shows how Nesbit incorporated these ideas into her writing, thereby influencing a generation of childrenan aspect of her literary legacy never before examined. Fitzsimonss riveting biography brings new light to the life and works of this famed literary icon, a remarkable writer and woman.