Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934

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American novelist and short story writer.

From the description of Letters, 1888-1921. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233100106

Alice French, author of dozens of "local color" short stories, as well as articles, essays and novels, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on March 18, 1850. Clover Bend, Arkansas provided the inspiration for many of her local color pieces, as well as her 1910 novel, By Inheritance. Her leading works are: Knitters in the Sun (1887); the novella Expiation (1890); Otto the Knight and Other Trans-Mississippi Stories (1891); Stories of a Western Town (1893), a favorite of President Teddy Roosevelt; An Adventure in Photography (1893); The Missionary Sheriff (1897); The Heart of Toil (1898); A Slave to Duty and Other Women (1898); The Captured Dream (1899); The Man of the Hour (1905); The Lion's Share (1907); Stories that End Well (1911); A Step on the Stair (1913); and The Captain Answered (1917). With the fading of the market for local color stories, the decline of paternalism and, later, failing health, Alice French published little after 1913. Economically ravaged by the depression, Alice French fell to influenza in Davenport in 1934, at the age of eighty-four.

From the description of Papers of Alice French. (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233983274

American fiction writer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Davenport, Iowa, to Small, Maynard & Co., 1901 Nov. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270752178

From the description of Letters, 1888 & 1896, Davenport, Iowa, to Mrs. Terhune [Marion Harland] [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647812296

Alice French was a popular and prolific author of short fiction, publishing primarily under the pseudonym of Octave Thanet. Born into a well-to-do New England family later transplanted to Iowa, she settled in Arkansas with a friend; her stories show the influence of each experience. Her most popular works were regional tales set in either Arkansas or Iowa, with a wealth of local details and humorous themes. Although her motivation was financial, her work was critically acclaimed, and she acted as mentor for other regional writers.

From the description of Alice French letter to My dear Judge, 1904 May 29. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 56429529

Alice French was a critically acclaimed, prolific writer of short stories and journalistic essays who wrote under the pseudonym Octave Thanet. George French, Alice's father, moved his family to Davenport, Iowa in 1856. Her first published work was the story "Hugo's Waiting" printed in the Davenport Gazette in 1871. In 1883 French and a widowed friend set up a winter home at Clover Bend Plantation in Lawrence County, Arkansas.

From the description of Octave Thanet papers, 1890-1893. (State Historical Society of Iowa, Library). WorldCat record id: 435838711

Pseudonym of Alice French.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Clover Bend, Arkansas, to W.E. Henley, 1898 Feb. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270752169

Pseudonym of American author Alice French.

Born in New England, but raised in Davenport, Iowa, French wrote numerous short stories, three novels, two volumes of non-fiction sketches, and many articles of social commentary. Published mainly between 1887 and 1911, her stories of people in Arkansas and Iowa explore regional themes and focus on the lives of workers and women.

From the description of Alice French papers, 1871-1934. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 44911136

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sarah Orne Jewett compositions and other papers, 1847-1909. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wendell family papers Houghton Library
creatorOf DePuy, E. Cora,. Collection, 1883-1927 (bulk 1900-1919). University of Michigan
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Autograph letter signed : Davenport, Iowa, to Small, Maynard & Co., 1901 Nov. 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Elizabeth Buehermann papers, 1904-1955 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Letters, 1888 & 1896, Davenport, Iowa, to Mrs. Terhune [Marion Harland] [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Henry Oscar Houghton additional papers, 1839-1895 Houghton Library
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Papers of Alice French. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Hubbell, Ken. Those black children in the foreground [graphic]. Arkansas History Commission
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Alice French letter to My dear Judge, 1904 May 29. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
referencedIn Sarah Orne Jewett correspondence, 1861-1930. Houghton Library
referencedIn Henry Oscar Houghton papers, 1773-1932 (bulk 1833-1895) Houghton Library
creatorOf St. James' Episcopal Church (Pewee Valley, Ky.). Ladies' Guild. Records, 1897-1901 and n.d. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Correspondence with Mr. Browne, 1889-1905, Miss Patterson, Miss Steath, Mr. Kaufman, Master Chapman, Arkansas, Feb. 26, 1893, Mr. Johnson, W. 59th Street, Aug. 31, Mr. Ellis D. Robb, Clover Bend, March 9, 1899, Mr. Bobbs of Bobbs-Merrill Co., Mr. Young, Davenport, June 29, 1901, Mr. Moorhead, Cedar Bend, Feb. 25, 1895, Mr. Varney, Davenport, Iowa, May 27, 1909, a photograph and an article from The Book Buyer, Apr. 1889, and mounted pictures from a periodical of Thanet and her house. University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Alice French papers, 1871-1934. Newberry Library
creatorOf Hubbell, Ken. Those black citizens that we caught with the shutter at the boat landing, men by the steamboat Hope [graphic]. Arkansas History Commission
referencedIn Autograph File, F, 1447-1994. Houghton Library
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Autograph letter signed : Clover Bend, Arkansas, to W.E. Henley, 1898 Feb. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf French, Alice, 1850-1934. Letters, 1888-1921. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Holland, J. G. (Josiah Gilbert), 1819-1881. Autograph letter signed : Editorial Rooms of Scribner's Monthly, New York, to Alice French, 1878 Nov. 27. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Octave Thanet papers, 1890-1893. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
referencedIn Lamar, Joseph Rucker, 1857-1916. Joseph Rucker and Clarinda Pendleton Lamar papers, 1792-1936, (bulk 1910-1915). Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Edgar, William C. (William Crowell), 1856-1932. William C. Edgar and family papers, 1832-1949. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Typed letter signed Alice French to: "My Dear Mr. Fullerton" August 20, 1925. Wellesley College
creatorOf Thanet, Octave, 1850-1934. Whitsun Harp, Regulator [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Middlebury College. Abernethy Library of American Literature. Records, 1836-1898. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Buehermann, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Buehermann papers, 1904-1955. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919. Letter to Alice French. New York, NY. 1899 Dec. 12. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beinecke, Edwin J. (Edwin John), b. 1886, person
associatedWith Bok, Edward William, 1863-1930, person
associatedWith Buehermann, Elizabeth person
associatedWith Buehermann, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith Cairns Collection of American Women Writers. corporateBody
associatedWith Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919. person
associatedWith Crawford, Jane Allen, d. 1932. person
associatedWith Deland, Margaret Wade Campbell, 1857-1945. person
associatedWith DePuy, E. Cora, person
associatedWith Derby, Ethel Roosevelt. person
associatedWith Edgar, William C. (William Crowell), 1856-1932. person
associatedWith Fejervary, Celestine. person
associatedWith Field, Marshall, 1834-1906. person
associatedWith Fullerton, Hugh S. (Hugh Stuart), 1873-1945. person
associatedWith Garland, Hamlin, 1860-1940. person
associatedWith Harland, Marion, 1830-1922. person
associatedWith Henley, William Ernest, 1849-1903, person
associatedWith Herrick, Christine Terhune, 1859-1944. person
associatedWith Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911. person
associatedWith Holland, J. G. (Josiah Gilbert), 1819-1881. person
associatedWith Houghton, Henry Oscar, 1823-1895 person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howells, Mildred, b. 1872. person
associatedWith Jewett, Sarah Orne, 1849-1909. person
associatedWith Lamar, Joseph Rucker, 1857-1916. person
associatedWith MacBride, Harriet Diffenderfer, 1854-1927, person
associatedWith Maynard, Laurens, 1866-1917, person
associatedWith McClure, S. S. (Samuel Sidney), 1857-1949. person
associatedWith Middlebury College. Abernethy Library of American Literature. corporateBody
associatedWith Midwest Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Moody, Mrs. person
associatedWith Moorhead, Mr. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Preston, C. H. (Charles Henry), d. 1987, person
associatedWith Repplier, Agnes, 1855-1950. person
associatedWith Robb, Ellis D., 1869-1943. person
associatedWith Sangster, Margaret Elizabeth Munson, 1838-1912. person
associatedWith Shambaugh, Bertha M. H. (Bertha Maude Horack), 1871-1953, person
associatedWith Small, Maynard & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith St. James' Episcopal Church (Pewee Valley, Ky.). Ladies' Guild. corporateBody
associatedWith Terhune, Edward Payson, 1830-1907. person
associatedWith University of Wisconsin--Madison. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Varney, Mr. person
correspondedWith Wendell family. family
associatedWith Whitacre, Joseph A., person
associatedWith Williams, [Chauncey?]. person
associatedWith Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Iowa
Arkansas
Subject
American literature
American fiction
Short stories, American
Women authors, American
Women authors
Emblems
Local color in literature
Manuscripts, American
Obituaries
Regionalism in literature
Ẁomen authors, American
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1850-03-19

Death 1934-01-09

Information

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SNAC ID: 71467801