Elswyth Thane Books In Order

Publication Order of Women of Williamsburg Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

An American author of highly acclaimed romance novels during her life-time, the novelist Elswyth Thane was extremely well regarded for her various contributions to the genre over the years that were extremely distinctive in both their style and their prose. Born Helen Elswyth Thane Ricker Beebe, she was also a novelist of historical fiction, as well as of romance novels, along with producing screenplay during her life-time as well. Covering huge time-frames within the course of her backlog of literature, she was known for taking large themes and ideas and spanning them out over the course of her books, showing a great capacity for scope and breadth.

Early and Personal Life

Born on the 16th of May in 1900, Elswyth Thane lived till 1984 when she passed away on the 31st of July, leaving behind a long and illustrious legacy that many still look to for inspiration to this day. Creating a style and tone that was all of her very own, the author to be was born and raised in Burlington, Iowa, in the United States of America. It was growing up following this period in history that would inform much of her writing career, giving her a lot of material and ideas to build her forthcoming career on, setting a lot of her work in the past.

Educated to a high standard, she took her learning and formed what was to be the basis of her career as a writer, giving it the material that she needed to build on it. Taking in inspiration from the world around her she’d be constantly learning, always interested in history, which was something that would also greatly inform her work. Knowing what she wanted to write about and with a great visual style, largely due to her career as a screenwriter, she was able to make history accessible and entertaining for the reader, as well as engrossing and engaging for them too.

Still reading her work and appreciating it to this very day, readers have seen her work being transported all across the world, not just in her life-time, but beyond as well. Gaining a certain level of success unlike any other, she has managed to give readers an insight into the past that they would otherwise have had, allowing them to experience it in a way that not many other authors have managed to replicate since, if at all. With a lot more people discovering her work every day, her legacy grows from strength-to-strength, as it inspires many readers, a trend that will continue for years and years to come.

Writing Career

Releasing her first novel in 1926 she made her debut on to the literary scene with the novel ‘Riders of the Wind’, a title which not only helped to launch her career, but also managed to establish her style and tone. This was after sometime working as a reporter and a screenwriter during the 1920s, something which lead to her becoming a fully fledged author in her own right. Setting up one of the most prolific voices within the literary scene, she went on to leave behind a legacy that has been remembered to this very day.

With a legacy that still lives on to this very day she has managed to leave behind a backlog of work that’s pored over by academics and the general public alike. Gaining acclaim from both the critics and commercial public during her time, she would achieve a level of worldwide success unlike any other, with her books being transported nationally, as well as internationally. This legacy and its influence is something that’s set to continue on into the foreseeable future for some time to come, as it doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

Ever After

Setting up the third title in the long-running and much loved ‘Williamsburg’ series of novels, this was first brought out on the 1st of April in 1945. This would continue in much the same vein as the titles that preceded it, along with the titles that followed it as well, thus allowing the story and characters to develop overall. Creating a large and expansive look at the entirety of history it manages to draw in a variety of disparate elements, all of which allow it to evolve over the the long-running franchise of ‘Buccaneer’ published books.

With the series itself starting out in Colonial Williamsburg this series sees several generations of family progressing from the American Revolution right up to the second World War. This time looking at the character of Bracken Murray, it sees him heading off to London in 1897 during the summer Jubilee there, this following his wife deserting him. Falling in love with an English girl during his time in London, his cousin Fitz also happens to fall in love with a music-hall singer back in the USA after he rescues her. Will they find their hearts desire? What will become of them? Can they live happily ever after?

The Family Quarrel

Initially brought out in 1959 and has also been released through the Amereon Press publishing label it was a stand-alone book from Elswyth Thane. Setting up another historical period based book, it revisited many of her primary core interests, showing her keen eye for accuracy later on as well. This is something that would become a staple of her work throughout the years, which is why this title is a great non-fictional title for anybody hoping to get an insight into her career development and where she was heading.
Working as a non-fictional look back at the American Revolution, it charts the events of this period of social and political upheaval for everyone involved. A great period in the history of America, it is a must for anybody not only looking to find out more on the work of Thane, but anybody generally interested in history as well. Using eye witness accounts that were previously archived, she provides an account that is based in fact, allowing the reader to feel like they’re almost experiencing it for themselves in the process. Understanding her history and her subject matter, Elswyth Thane clearly understands her subject matter as she heads back in time to look at the family quarrel.