Josephine Elder (1895–1988)
Author of Cherry Tree Perch
About the Author
Disambiguation Notice:
Pseudonym of Dr Olive Gwendoline Potter
Image credit: Olive Gwendoline Potter, c1919. Courtesy of Royal London Hospital Archives.
Series
Works by Josephine Elder
Guide Isabella {short story} 1 copy
Evelyn Wins Thru 1 copy
Associated Works
The Oxford Annual For Girls 13th Year — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Potter, Olive Gwendoline
- Other names
- Potter, Margaret
- Birthdate
- 1895-12-06
- Date of death
- 1988-07-24
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Croydon, London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Sutton, Surrey, England, UK
- Education
- London Hospital Medical College
University of Cambridge(Girton College ∙ medicine)
Croydon High School - Occupations
- physician
children's story writer
novelist
girls' school story author - Short biography
- Olive Gwendoline Potter studied medicine at The London Hospital Medical College just after World War I.
She was among the first women students admitted to the medical school because of the shortage of male doctors caused by the war. She went on to practice general medicine in Surrey, and also to become one of the best and most prolific writers of the girls' school story under the pen name of Josephine Elder. Her best-known work was Evelyn Finds Herself (1929). In addition to her children's books, Josephine Elder also wrote six novels for adults. - Disambiguation notice
- Pseudonym of Dr Olive Gwendoline Potter
Members
Reviews
Lists
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 18
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 430
- Popularity
- #56,815
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 6
- ISBNs
- 11
- Favorited
- 1
I enjoyed The Readheads immensely, and am most grateful to my friend Emily for loaning me her copy, as it is quite difficult to obtain. Josephine Elder is particularly noted for her sensitive appreciation for and skilled depiction of the nuanced experiences of girlhood friendship, and that is quite evident here. I liked the way in which she slowly built up the relationship between Eleanor and Cecily on the one hand, and Nancy on the other, and that there were no sudden, melodramatic events (such as a rescue, or something of the sort) that eventually led to the three becoming friends. Rather, it was a gradual sense of fellow feeling, and a recognition of Nancy's good qualities, on the part of the stubborn Cecily. I also liked that Elder so astutely captured Vivien's weaknesses, without making her into some sort of caricature or villain, and that she was given a chance to reflect and reform. The Guiding trip to Belgium was my favorite part of the story, I think, as it allowed all of the characters to step away from the artificial constraints of school, and be (or find) their true selves. This is one I heartily recommend to all girls' school story fans, or readers who enjoy vintage girls' fare. For my part, I would love to own a copy myself, and am hoping that Girls Gone By Publishers eventually reprint it, as they have done with other Elder titles.… (more)