Anne Knight (children's writer) facts for kids
For information about the social reformer with the same name, see Anne Knight.
Anne Knight (born Anne Waspe; 28 October 1792 – 11 December 1860) was a Quaker writer and teacher for children. She was born and died in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Her books, like Mornings in the Library (around 1828) and Mary Gray. A tale for little girls (1831), sometimes featured poems by her friend, Bernard Barton.
About Anne Knight
Anne was the oldest of eight children. Her parents were Jonathan Waspe, who worked with leather, and Phebe Gibbs. Anne married her cousin, James Knight, who was also a Quaker. Sadly, he died young, and Anne moved back to Woodbridge.
By 1826, Anne Knight was running a school in Woodbridge. She was good friends with the poet Bernard Barton. He even lived with her and her sisters for a while. Because of this friendship, Anne Knight is mentioned in letters that Charles Lamb wrote to Bernard Barton. Charles Lamb once wrote, "So A. K. keeps a school... she teaches nothing wrong, I'll answer for't." This shows that she was known for teaching good things.
Anne Knight passed away at her home in Woodbridge on 11 December 1860. She was buried in the Quaker burial ground there.
Anne Knight's Books
Anne Knight wrote several books for children. Sometimes, her books have been mistakenly thought to be written by another Quaker woman named Anne Knight (1786–1862), who was famous for fighting for women's rights.
Some of Anne Knight's books include:
- School-Room Lyrics (1846)
- Poetic Gleanings (1827)
- Mornings in the Library (around 1828), which had an introduction poem by Bernard Barton
- Mary Gray. A tale for little girls (1831), which also included a poem by Bernard Barton
- Lyriques français: pour la jeunesse. Morceaux choisis par A. K. (a French poetry book for young people, 3rd edition, 1869)
Anne Knight's poems were well-made, and her stories were told nicely. Her books often aimed to teach lessons, which was common for children's books back then. For example, in Mary Gray, she taught about animals. Mrs. Gray in the story explains how small animals like rabbits are useful to people. She says their meat can be eaten, and their soft fur is used to make hats. This shows how her stories combined entertainment with learning.
