J. M. Whitfeld J. M. Whitfeld i(A47080 works by) (a.k.a. Jessie Mary Whitfeld; Jessie M. Whitfeld; Mrs Owen Harris)
Also writes as: Mary Feld
Born: Established: 1862 Sydney, New South Wales, ; Died: Ceased: 1964 Oxford, Oxfordshire,
c
England,
c
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United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

In Authors and Illustrators of Australian Children's Books (1989), Walter McVitty (q.v.) suggests that Jessie Whitfeld was one of the first children's authors to introduce fairies, giants, witches, dragons and mermaids into Australian children's literature. She used the protagonists of European fairytales placed in Australian settings, such as the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves in New South Wales. Whitfield's later writing was in the family story genre and was thought to have been a response to the broad popularity of the successful books of Ethel Turner (q.v.).

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Most sources incorrectly give year of birth as 1861.

Known archival holdings

University of Canberra University of Canberra Library (ACT)
Last amended 12 Nov 2008 14:03:06
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