Dodge, Mary Mapes, 1831–1905, American writer of children's stories, b. New York City. During her lifetime she was the acknowledged leader in the field of juvenile fiction. Her story Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates (1865) has become a children's classic. From 1873 until her death she edited and contributed to the children's magazine St. Nicholas; collections of her work in St. Nicholas were published as Baby Days (1876) and Baby World (1884). Other works include Irvington Stories (1864) and Donald and Dorothy (1883).

Bibliography

See biography by A. B. Howard (1943).

Dodge, Mary Mapes

orig. Mary Elizabeth Mapes

(born Jan. 26, 1831, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died Aug. 21, 1905, Onteora Park, N.Y.) U.S. author. She began writing children's stories when she was suddenly widowed with two small sons. Her first collection, Irvington Stories (1864), was followed by Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates (1865), which became a children's classic. In 1873 she was named editor of the new children's magazine St. Nicholas; its success stemmed from her high standards, which attracted such writers as Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Rudyard Kipling.