Alice French
Alice French, also known by her pen name Octave Thanet, was an influential American author born on March 19, 1850, in Andover, Massachusetts. She grew up in a family rich in civic engagement and education, moving to Davenport, Iowa, in 1856. French attended Vassar College and Abbott Academy before returning home to support her siblings. Her literary career began in 1871 with the publication of her first short story, and she gained recognition for her works that often depicted Midwestern life, exploring themes of class differences and economics. French published her first book, "Knitters in the Sun," in 1887, followed by her first novel, "Expiation," in 1891. She was a prominent contributor to notable magazines such as Atlantic Monthly and Scribner's. Beyond her writing, French was dedicated to nurturing new talent in the literary field, mentoring emerging Iowa writers like Susan Glaspell. Despite her strong independent lifestyle, her stories often reflected conservative values, creating a notable contrast in her work. French passed away on January 9, 1934, and was recognized for her contributions to literature, including founding the Society of Midland Authors and receiving an honorary degree from the University of Iowa.
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Alice French
Author
- Born: March 19, 1850
- Birthplace: Andover, Massachusetts
- Died: January 9, 1934
Biography
Alice French was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on March 19, 1850, the daughter of George Henry French, a manufacturer and civic leader, and Frances Morton French. French’s mother was the daughter of Marcus Morton, a former governor of Massachusetts. The family moved in 1856 to Davenport, Iowa, where French’s uncle was the Episcopal bishop. He encouraged French to read widely, and she studied economics, history, and theology in his library. She attended Vassar College in 1866 and Abbott Academy in Andover from 1867 to 1868 before returning to Davenport to care for her brothers and sisters. Her first short story, “Hugo’s Waiting,” was published in the Davenport Gazette in 1871 under the pseudonym Frances Essex. She soon adopted another pseudonym, Octave Thanet. Following a brief tour of Europe, French moved in with her friend Jane Allen Crawford at Crawford’s plantation in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. French’s first book, Knitters in the Sun, a collection of stories previously published in magazines, appeared in 1887. Her first novel, Expiation, appeared in 1891.
Through the publication of her work, usually set in Iowa or Arkansas, in such magazines as Atlantic Monthly and Scribner’s, French gained fame as a chronicler of Midwestern life. Her fiction frequently deals with class differences and the role of economics in determining the quality of life. She did not consider herself an artist; instead, she saw herself as someone who wrote to pay for such expenses as furnishing her house. She later mentored younger Iowa writers, including Susan Glaspell. The contradiction between her independent, self-reliant life and the politically conservative tone of her stories, which celebrate traditional family values, has often been noted. She died January 9, 1934. French founded the Society of Midland Authors in 1914. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1911 and an award from the Allied Arts Association in 1923 as the writer who “put the ‘midland’ in midland literature.”