Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) was a British author who wrote under the name E. Nesbit. She is most widely known for her children’s books, and her easy writing style with its humor and vivid characterizations. She often (but not always) included elements of fantasy or magic in her books – particularly with children in everyday circumstances confront a magical item or person. Her books without a fantasy element often were about juvenile misadventures. As a child, she moved frequently around England, France, and Germany due to the health of her sister, and often those places found their way into the settings of her books. Many of her books were about families, with positive sibling relationships as they navigate the situations in front of them.

My family’s favorite E. Nesbit books:

• The Enchanted Castle (1907) – Three children exploring a country estate discover a girl claiming to be a fairy princess with a magical ring. The children set out to discover more about the ring and the castle.
• The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899) – Six children decide that the best way to restore their family’s fortune is to go out and do it themselves! This book follows their schemes with varying degrees of success. The first of a 4-book series!
• The Railway Children (1906) – After their father is mysteriously taken away, three children and their mother have to move to the country, where they discover their cottage abuts the railway line. The children befriend the people connected to the railway, and learn the value of helping everyone.

You can see all the books written by E. Nesbit in our library at this link.