Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813–1894)

Susan Fenimore Cooper was born near Mamaroneck, New York, a daughter of Susan (DeLancey) and James Fenimore. She was educated at their home in Cooperstown, New York until 1817, when the family moved to New York City. There, and when the family lived in Europe, she attended private schools. In 1836, the family returned to Cooperstown and with her father's encouragement, Susan began to write. She published a novel, Elinor Wyllys; or, The Young Folk of Longbridge, under the pseudonym Amabel Penfeather, and contributed essays and short stories to popular magazines such as Harper's New Monthly, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Freeman's Journal. In 1850, she published Rural Hours, a volume of insightful observations of nature and country life drawn from her journal. It appeared anonymously "by a lady," and was very successful, being reprinted several times. Rural Hours made Cooper America's first female nature writer. Her book has been called "both a source and a rival of Thoreau's Walden." It was to be her most celebrated literary work, although she subsequently published Rhyme and Reason of Country Life (1854) others. Cooper also acted as her father's secretary/amanuensis for many years and, after his death, as his literary executor and editor. She was also a philanthropist and volunteered much of her time to charitable organizations for the poor.