Image of Eleanor H. Porter

Timeline

Lifetime: 1868 - 1920 Passed: ≈ 104 years ago

Title

American novelist

Country/Nationality

United States
Wikipedia

Eleanor H. Porter

Eleanor Emily Hodgman Porter (December 19, 1868 – May 21, 1920) was an American novelist, most known for Pollyanna (1913) and Just David (1916).

Porter wrote mainly children's literature, adventure stories, and romance fiction. Her most famous novel is Pollyanna (1913), followed by a sequel, Pollyanna Grows Up (1915).

Her adult novels include The Turn of the Tide (1908), The Road to Understanding (1917), Oh Money! Money! (1918), Dawn (1919), Keith's Dark Tower (1919), Mary Marie (1920) and Sister Sue (1921); her short-story collections include Across the Years (c. 1919), Money, Love and Kate (1923), and Little Pardner (1926).

Porter achieved considerable commercial success: Pollyanna ranked eighth among best-selling novels in the United States during 1913, second during 1914, and fourth during 1915 (with 47 printings between 1915 and 1920); Just David ranked third in 1916; The Road to Understanding ranked fourth in 1917; and Oh Money! Money! ranked fifth in 1918.

Books by Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna Cover image

Pollyanna

Fiction Novel Children's Literature
Children's Literature Luck Gameplay

This is a timeless classic expressing the universal message that every aspect of life should be looked at in a positive way. It follows the actions of its protagonist, eleven-year old Pollyanna who goes to live with her stern Aunty Polly, where she f...

Just David Cover image

Just David

Fiction Novel Children's Literature
Children's Literature

Just David is a 1916 children's novel by Eleanor H. Porter. It was among the top six bestsellers in cities across the United States in 1916, and in July 1916 it was the second bestselling novel. Originally published by Houghton Mifflin, it tells th...

The Turn Of The Tide Cover image

The Turn Of The Tide

Fiction
Orphans

"What a joy! How exciting!" Margret Kendall returned home, to her loving and equally beloved mother's arms after 4 years in the slums of New York City- where she endured unimaginable hardships. This hardship made the naturally brilliant nine-years-ol...

Pollyanna Grows Up Cover image

Pollyanna Grows Up

Romance Adventure Fiction Children's Literature
Family Love Independence Mystery Adventure Friendship Loss Hope Relationships Healing Heartbreak Life lessons Optimism Growing up Change Solution Choice Boston Maturity Decision Personal growth

Pollyanna, now cured of her crippling spinal injury, and able to walk again, goes to live in Boston with Mrs. Carew, a heart-broken woman searching for her lost nephew. Her Aunt Polly goes abroad with her new Uncle, Dr. Chilton. While in Boston, Poll...

Miss Billy Cover image

Miss Billy

Comedy Romance Fiction
Friendship Identity Coming-of-age Orphan Mistaken identity

In Eleanor H. Porter's delightful novel, we encounter Miss Billy, an 18-year-old orphan who embarks on a unique journey of self-discovery and connection. After losing her parents, Billy seeks refuge with her namesake, Mr. William Henshaw, a man she b...

Oh, Money! Money! Cover image

Oh, Money! Money!

Comedy Fiction Humour
Family Money Fortune Inheritance Deception Identity Wealth Secret Cousins Millionaire Incognito Worthy

Mr. Stanley Fulton, a wealthy man with no immediate family, decides to test the character of his distant cousins. He anonymously distributes large sums of money to each of them, observing their reactions and choices. The novel follows Fulton as he...

Miss Billy's Decision Cover image

Miss Billy's Decision

Romance Fiction Novel
Love Romance Challenges Happiness Engagement Heartbreak Wedding Relationship Choice Decision Misunderstandings

In 'Miss Billy's Decision,' Eleanor H. Porter continues the tale of Miss Billy and Bertram, whose engagement was established in the previous book. This novel delves into the complexities of their relationship, as they navigate potential misunderstand...

Miss Billy Married Cover image

Miss Billy Married

Romance Fiction Novel
Marriage Love Romance Domestic Life Misunderstanding Heartache

This book is a sequel to Miss Billy and Miss Billy's Decision and tells the story of Bertram and Billy's marriage. The book explores the challenges and joys of married life, and the couple must navigate misunderstandings and heartache in order to fin...

Dawn Cover image

Dawn

Fiction Drama Psychology War
Family Hope Disability Acceptance World war i Blindness

Dawn is a moving and inspiring novel about a young man who is going blind. Keith Burton is a bright and ambitious young man, but his world is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease. As Keith's sight slowly fails, he s...

Mary Marie Cover image

Mary Marie

Fiction Drama Children's Literature
Marriage Love Children's Literature Divorce Coming-of-age Family relationships Reunion Second Chances Turmoil Emotional growth Childhood memories Impact of divorce

Mary Marie, a young girl, navigates the emotional upheaval of her parents' divorce. She juggles two separate lives, grappling with the complexities of her parents' fractured relationship. Through her own experiences, Mary Marie comes to understand th...

Road to Understanding Cover image

Road to Understanding

Romance Fiction Drama Novel
Family Marriage Love Self-Discovery Society Class Identity Conflict Forgiveness Relationships Parents Daughter

Eleanor H. Porter's *Road to Understanding* is a poignant tale exploring the complexities of family dynamics, societal pressures, and the search for self-identity. The story revolves around Burke and Helen Denby, a couple whose marriage was built on...

Across The Years Cover image

Across The Years

Fiction Drama
Love Realism Youth Time Short Stories Life Hope Relationships Human Nature Change Elderly Dreams

Across the Years is a collection of eighteen short stories by Eleanor H. Porter, the author of Pollyanna. These stories explore the complexities of human relationships and the various stages of life, from the hopeful dreams of youth to the bitterswee...

Cross Currents Cover image

Cross Currents

Fiction Drama Children's Literature
Family Poverty Loss Childhood Determination Hope Resilience New York City Orphan Turn of the Century Social issues Motherly love Working children Finding home

Eleanor H. Porter's "Cross Currents" tells the poignant tale of Margaret, a young girl thrust into a world of hardship and uncertainty after a tragic accident separates her from her mother in New York City. The story delves into the harsh realities f...

Money, Love and Kate Together with the Story of a Nickel Cover image

Money, Love and Kate Together with the Story of a Nickel

Romance Fiction Novel
Marriage Love Morality Money Romance Inheritance Virtue Hope Wealth Relationships Character Uplifting

This novel explores the complexities of love, marriage, and the influence of wealth. John Newcomb, a man of good character, finds himself in a situation where he inherits a substantial fortune upon marriage. He navigates the challenges of finding a g...