Anya Seton (January 23, 1904 – November 8, 1990), born Ann Seton, was an American author of historical fiction, or as she preferred they be called, " biographical novels".

Career

Seton published her first novel, '' My Theodosia'', in 1941. Seton's

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

s were noted for how extensively she researched the historical facts, and some of them were best-sellers: ''Dragonwyck'' (1944) and ''Foxfire'' (1950) were both made into Hollywood films. Three of her books are classics in their genre and continue in their popularity to the present: ''Katherine'', the story of

Katherine Swynford Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster (born Katherine de Roet, – 10 May 1403), also spelled Katharine or Catherine, was the third wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III. Daughter o ...

, the mistress and eventual wife of

John of Gaunt John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English royal prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the fourth son (third to survive infancy as William of Hatfield died shortly after birth) of King Edward ...

, and their children, who were the direct ancestors of the Tudors, Stuarts, and the modern British royal family; ''

Green Darkness ''Green Darkness'' is a 1972 novel by Anya Seton. It spent sixth months on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list and became her most popular novel, as well as her last completed novel. Plot summary In the 1960s, young Celia Marsdon is a rich ...

'', the story of a modern couple plagued by their past life incarnations; and '' The Winthrop Woman'' about the notorious Elizabeth Fones, niece and daughter-in-law of John Winthrop, the first governor of the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...

. Most of her novels have been recently republished, several with forewords by

Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is an English historical novelist who has been publishing since 1987. The best known of her works is ''The Other Boleyn Girl'' (2001), which in 2002 won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Roman ...

. In 2003, ''Katherine'' was chosen as the 95th best British novel of all time in a nationwide poll conducted by the BBC. Her 1962 novel ''

Devil Water ''Devil Water'' is a 1962 historical fiction novel by Anya Seton. A 2007 edition features a foreword by Philippa Gregory. Plot Charles Radcliffe escapes from Newgate Prison after his brother's execution during the Jacobite rising of 1715. Charl ...

'' concerns James, the luckless Earl of Derwentwater and his involvement with the Jacobite rising of 1715. She also narrates the story of his brother

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

, beheaded after the

1745 rebellion The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took pl ...

, the last man to die for the cause. The action of the novel moves back and forth between Northumberland, Tyneside, London, and the United States. Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for Northumberland. She certainly visited her Snowdon cousins at Felton. Billy Pigg, the celebrated Northumbrian piper played "Derwentwater's Farewell" especially for her. The novel shows her typical thorough research of events and places, though the accents are a little wayward. Seton said that her greatest debt of all was to Miss

Amy Flagg Amy Cecilia Flagg (30 September 1893 – 22 February 1965) was a British historian and photographer. Biography Flagg was born in South Shields (then part of County Durham) on 30 September 1893 and lived in Westoe. She was the town historian of So ...

of Westoe Village in

South Shields South Shields () is a coastal town in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne. Historically, it was known in Roman times as Arbeia, and as Caer Urfa by Early Middle Ages. According to the 20 ...

, her father's birthplace.

Personal life

In 1904, Seton was born in Manhattan to English-born naturalist

Ernest Thompson Seton Ernest Thompson Seton (born Ernest Evan Thompson August 14, 1860 – October 23, 1946) was an English-born Canadian-American author, wildlife artist, founder of the Woodcraft Indians in 1902 (renamed Woodcraft League of America), and one of ...

and American travel writer

Grace Gallatin Seton Thompson Grace Gallatin Seton Thompson (28 January 1872 – 19 March 1959) was an American author and suffragist. Early life and education Grace Gallatin was born in Sacramento, California on January 28, 1872. In 1888 she began writing articles for San ...

. She grew up in Cos Cob, Connecticut, in a wealthy family. Seton married twice. Her first marriage at the age of 19 was to Rhodes scholar Hamilton Cottier, and they had two children, Pamela and Seton Cottier. Her second marriage was to investment counselor Hamilton (Chan) M. Chase in 1930. Together they had one daughter, Clemency, and they divorced in 1968. She died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and was survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. She is interred at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.

Works

*'' My Theodosia'' (1941) *'' Dragonwyck'' (1944) *''

The Turquoise ''The Turquoise'' is a novel by the American author Anya Seton which was first published in 1946. It is a fictional story of the life of Fey Cameron set against an historical background of the United States and New York society in the mid 19th ce ...

'' (1946) *''

The Hearth and Eagle ''The Hearth and Eagle'' is a historical novel by Anya Seton. Set primarily in the old New England fishing village of Marblehead, Massachusetts, the story centers on strong-willed, passionate Hesper Honeywood and her search for love and fulfillmen ...

'' (1948) *'' Foxfire'' (1951) *'' Katherine'' (1954) *'' The Mistletoe and Sword'' (1955) *'' The Winthrop Woman'' (1958) *''

'' (1962) *'' Avalon'' (1965) *''

'' (1973) *'' Smouldering Fires'' (1975)

References

External links

Anya Seton's papers, housed at the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seton, Anya 1904 births 1990 deaths 20th-century American novelists American historical novelists American women novelists Writers from New York City 20th-century American women writers Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period Women historical novelists People from Cos Cob, Connecticut Novelists from New York (state) Ernest Thompson Seton

Career

Personal life

Works

References

Further reading

External links