Mary Ellen Chase (1887–1973) was an American educator, scholar, and novelist, known for her literary contributions to early 20th-century New England. Her deep appreciation for the region’s culture shaped much of her writing.
Born in Blue Hill, Maine, she earned a bachelor’s from the University of Maine (1909) and a master’s and PhD in English from the University of Minnesota. She taught at various institutions before joining Smith College in 1926, where she remained until retiring in 1955.
Chase authored over 30 books, many celebrating Maine’s heritage. She began with children’s literature, including The Girl from the Big Horn Country (1916) and Mary Christmas (1926.) Her first novel, Uplands (1927,) was followed by Mary Peters (1934) and Silas Crockett (1935,) both depicting Maine’s seafaring families. Dawn in Lyonesse (1938) reimagined the Tristan and Isolde legend in modern New England.
Beyond fiction, Chase wrote literary criticism, essays, and biblical studies. Notable works include A Goodly Heritage (1932,) A Goodly Fellowship (1939,) and The White Gate (1954.) The Prophets for the Common Reader (1963) examined Hebrew prophecy, discussing Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, and Jeremiah.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Mary Ellen Chase
Manual labor to my father was not only good and decent for it’s own sake but, as he was given to saying, it straightened out one’s thoughts.
—Mary Ellen Chase
Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.
—Mary Ellen Chase
Topics: Christmas
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