Esther Forbes
Esther Forbes was an American novelist and historian born into a literary family, which deeply influenced her writing from a young age. She began crafting stories at thirteen but published her first novel in 1926 after receiving an education at Bradford Academy and the University of Wisconsin, as well as working in publishing. Forbes is known for her rich portrayals of early New England history, particularly in her critically acclaimed novel, *A Mirror for Witches*, which explores themes of women's rebellion against Victorian conventions.
Her historical narratives continued with works set during significant periods, such as King Philip's War and the American Revolutionary War. Forbes garnered significant recognition for her historical writing, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1943 for *Paul Revere and the World He Lived In*. Additionally, her novel *Johnny Tremain*, published in 1944, received the Newbery Medal, celebrating its engaging depiction of a young man's journey in pre-Revolutionary Boston. Forbes's contributions to literature reflect her deep connection to and understanding of American history, making her an important figure in both literary and historical circles.
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Subject Terms
Esther Forbes
Writer
- Born: June 28, 1891
- Birthplace: Westborough, Massachusetts
- Died: August 12, 1967
- Place of death: Worcester, Massachusetts
American novelist and historian
Biography
Born into a literary environment and surrounded from her earliest childhood by the traditions and the lore of New England history, Esther Forbes began to write novels at the age of thirteen. Publication, however, did not follow until 1926, after she had graduated from Bradford Academy, had attended the University of Wisconsin for two years (1916-1918), had worked six years on the editorial staff of a publishing company, and had married Albert J. Hoskins, whom she later divorced.
The historical work O Genteel Lady is concerned chiefly with a woman’s revolt against the stifling conventions of Victorian times and is not in keeping with the spirit or the subject matter of her later works. In her second novel, A Mirror for Witches, Forbes attained her greatest critical success by exploiting for the first time her long-collected store of knowledge about early New England. This period of history continued to serve her well. In her romance Paradise she went back to the time of King Philip’s War (1675-1676); in The General’s Lady she created a setting in Revolutionary times; and in Rainbow on the Road she vividly depicted rural life in New England during the 1830’s. In fact, though primarily a novelist, Forbes won her highest public acclaim as a historian when, in 1943, her best-selling Paul Revere and the World He Lived In brought her the Pulitzer Prize for history.
One year later, in 1944, Forbes received the prestigious Newbery Medal from the National Library Association for her novel Johnny Tremain: A Novel for Old and Young. This classic work, which presents the story of a sixteen-year-old silversmith’s apprentice and his growth to manhood in pre-Revolutionary Boston, was acclaimed for its historical accuracy and its depth of insight and emotion. During the U.S. bicentennial year the work generated renewed interest and praise for its faithful depiction of life in early America.
Bibliography
Bales, Jack. Esther Forbes: A Bio-bibliography of the Author of “Johnny Tremain.” Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 1998.
Bertram, Martin. “The Private Lives of Esther Forbes.” University of Kansas City Review 26 (1960).
Collier, Christopher. “Johnny and Sam: Old and New Approaches to the Revolution.” In Crosscurrents of Criticism: Horn Book Essays, 1968-1977, edited by Paul Heins. Boston: Horn Book, 1977.
Fischer, David Hackett. Paul Revere’s Ride. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Forbes, Esther. “Why the Past?” In What Is a Book? Thoughts About Writing, edited by Dale Warren. 1935. Reprint. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1972.
Horovitz, Carolyn. “Dimensions in Time: A Critical View of Historical Fiction for Children.” In Horn Book Reflections on Children’s Books and Reading: Selected from Eighteen Years of the Horn Book Magazine, 1949-1966, edited by Elinor Whitney Field. Boston: Horn Book, 1969.
Smedman, Sarah M. “Esther Forbes’s Johnny Tremain: Authentic History, Classic Fiction.” In Touchstones: Reflections on the Best in Children’s Literature, edited by Perry Nodelman. Vol. 1. West Lafayette, Ind.: Children’s Literature Association, 1985.
Warren, Dale. “Esther Forbes and the World She Lives In.” Publishers Weekly 145 (May 13, 1944): 1844-1845.