Beryl Epstein
Beryl Epstein was an influential American writer and editor, born in 1910 in Columbus, Ohio. She received her education at Douglas College, the women's college of Rutgers University, before embarking on a career in journalism, working for the Daily Home News and Sunday Times in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1937, she began collaborating with her fiancé, Sam Epstein, on various writing projects, and they married in 1938, continuing their partnership in both life and work. The couple became well-known for their nonfiction books aimed at young adults, contributing to several children's book series, including the Real Books and First Book series. Their work encompassed biographies of notable figures like Harriet Tubman and Winston Churchill, as well as science-related topics. Beryl's editing skills were particularly significant in the development of her husband’s Ken Holt mystery series, where she provided valuable input and edits. Beryl Epstein passed away in 1999, leaving behind a legacy of educational literature.
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Subject Terms
Beryl Epstein
Nonfiction and Children's Literature Writer and Biographer
- Born: November 15, 1910
- Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
- Died: December 16, 1999
- Place of death: Southhold, New York
Biography
Beryl Epstein was born 1910 in Columbus, Ohio. She attended schools in both Columbus and Passaic, New Jersey, and later attended and graduated from Douglas College, the woman’s college of Rutgers University. After graduation, she worked as a reporter and editor for the Daily Home News and Sunday Times in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She also was the assistant editor of American Scholar.
In 1937, she began working and collaborating with her fiancé, Sam Epstein, on assorted writing projects. The two were married in April, 1938, and continued to write together. In 1941, Epstein left her other jobs to continue writing with her husband and work as a freelance writer and editor.
The Epsteins were prolific authors of nonfiction books for young adults. They contributed numerous titles to several children’s book series, including the Real Books, All About, and First Book series. These series and other books included a multitude of biographies about Harriet Tubman, Charles de Gaulle, George Washington Carver, Paul Revere, Margaret Mead, Winston Churchill, and many other subjects. The Epsteins wrote other nonfiction books on a number of science-related topics such as electricity, prehistoric animals, and submarines.
While Epstein and her husband had very writing styles, they took turns writing chapters and editing each other’s work, enabling their styles to blend together. Epstein also was considered instrumental in helping her husband write the popular Ken Holt mystery series. While Sam Epstein created the series and wrote the books by himself, under the pseudonym Bruce Campbell, Beryl Epstein edited some of the books and may have contributed ideas and plot points. Epstein died in 1999.