Caroline Dale Snedeker (1871–1956)

Caroline Snedeker, née Parke, was born in New Harmony, Indiana. She was a descendant on her mother's side of Robert Owen, the British social reformer and industrialist. She grew up in Indiana; later the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she attended the College of Music. Caroline and her three sisters performed musical concerts to support the family after their father died. She was the pianist in the group and became a music teacher. In 1903, she married Charles Snedeker and went to live in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. Caroline Snedeker wrote 13 sucessful novels for young adults and two adult novels, along with articles, stories and poems. Her first book, the Coward of Thermopylae, later re-titled The Spartan, was first published in 1911. Most of her novels were inspired by her love of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. She also based a series on American history. She won the Newbery Honor award in 1928 with Downright Dencey and again in 1934 with The Forgotten Daughter.