Margaret Sidney

The Real Name and Life

• Margaret Sidney was actually a pen name. The real name of the author was Harriett Mulford Stone (1844-1924).
• She was born in New Haven, Connecticut and lived to be 80 years old.
• In 1881, she married her publisher, Daniel Lothrop, and after his death, she even ran his publishing company for a while.
• Interestingly, she was passionate about historical preservation. She was involved in the Daughters of the American Revolution and played a role in saving Louisa May Alcott's "Orchard House".

Literary Work

• Margaret Sidney is most famous for her children's book series, "The Five Little Peppers". The first book, "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" was published in 1881 and became an instant hit. The series follows the lives of five orphaned siblings, the Pepper children, facing challenges and adventures with optimism and strong family bonds. There are twelve books in total in the series.
• Beyond children's literature, Margaret Sidney also wrote for adults. She wrote poetry, fiction, and even non-fiction works. An example of her adult work is "Old Concord: Her Highways and Byways" (1898).
• Her writing for magazines and newspapers included publications like "The Practical Housekeeper" and "The Christian Union."

Interesting Facts

• It's said that a key to her success was her ability to connect with young readers. Reviews mentioned her talent for putting herself in the minds of children while writing.
• While "The Five Little Peppers" is her most famous work, she was a prolific writer who produced a variety of works throughout her career.