William Bowen (author)

William Alvin Bowen (May 15, 1877–September 18, 1937) was an American attorney who wrote several children's books in the 1920s.[1][2] His most notable work was The Old Tobacco Shop, a fantasy novel that was one runner-up for the inaugural Newbery Medal in 1922.[3]

William Bowen
BornWilliam Alvin Bowen
(1877-05-15)May 15, 1877
Baltimore, Maryland, US
DiedSeptember 18, 1937(1937-09-18) (aged 60)
California
OccupationWriter
NationalityAmerican
GenreChildren's literature, fantasy
Notable works

Bowen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Maryland in 1898, and worked in his father's law office until 1904, when he moved to Los Angeles. There he was a member of the Olympic Committee as attorney for the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was also a member of the California and Southern California Historical Societies.[1]

Bowen's first children's book was The Enchanted Forest, a fantasy novel published by Macmillan late in 1920. His second was The Old Tobacco Shop, one year later.[2]

Works
  • The Enchanted Forest, illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham (The Macmillan Company, 1920)[4]
  • The Old Tobacco Shop: A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure, illus. Reginald Birch (Macmillan, Nov 1921)[4]
  • Solario the Tailor: His Tales of the Magic Doublet, illus. J. Ormsbee (Macmillan, Sep 1922) – sequel to The Enchanted Forest[4]
  • Merrimeg, illus. Emma Brock (Macmillan, 1923), LCCN 23-13190
  • Philip and the Faun, illus. N. Choate (Little, Brown and Company, Sep 1926)[4]
  • Gossip from the Sixteenth Century (Los Angeles: The Zamorano Club, 1938), LCCN 39-5254

References
  1. "William Alvin Bowen, 1877–1937". Henry R. Wagner. California History. Q J Calif Hist Soc 17.1 (March 1938): 94. DOI: 10.2307/25160763. University of California Press (ucpress.edu). Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  2. "Los Angeles Attorney Writes Children's Books". Los Angeles Times. November 13, 1921. Page II11.
  3. "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present". American Library Association. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  4. William Bowen at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 2016-02-22. Select a title to see its linked publication history and general information. Select a particular edition (title) for more data at that level, such as a front cover image or linked contents.
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