Charles Finger facts for kids

Charles Joseph Finger (born December 25, 1869 – died January 7, 1941) was a writer from America who was born in Britain. He was also a talented musician who led an orchestra and taught piano lessons.

About Charles Finger

Charles Finger was born in Willesden, England. He went to King's College London for his education. He loved books and music from a young age.

When he was 20, Charles started traveling a lot. He visited places like Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia in South America. There, he worked as a gold seeker, a guide, and even a cook for sheep farms.

Later, he moved to New York City and London. He also lived in several cities in Texas. He worked as an accountant and a musician. Eventually, he settled in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is where he began to focus on his writing career.

His Writing Career

Charles Finger became well-known for his books, especially those for young people. In 1925, he won the famous Newbery Medal. This award is given to the best American children's book published that year. He won it for his book Tales from Silver Lands (1924). This book is a collection of exciting stories from Central and South America.

Some of his other popular books include:

• Bushrangers (1924)
• Tales Worth Telling (1927)
• Courageous Companions (1929)
• A Dog at His Heel (1936)

He also wrote a book about his own life called Seven Horizons (1930).

His Musical Talents

Besides writing, Charles Finger was a very skilled musician. He was the director of the San Angelo Conservatory of Music in Texas from 1898 to 1904. One of his piano students in San Angelo, Texas was David Wendel Guion. David later became famous for arranging and making the song "Home on the Range" popular.

Charles Finger passed away on January 7, 1941. He is buried in the Farmington, Arkansas cemetery. The words on his gravestone are: "This voyage done, set sail and steer once more To further landfall on some nobler shore."

Selected Literary Works

Here are some of the books Charles Finger wrote:

• Choice Of The Crowd (1921)
• The Ice Age (1922)
• Lost Civilizations (1922)
• Highwaymen: A Book Of Gallant Rogues (1923)
• Book Of Real Adventures (1924)
• Great Pirates (1924)
• Bushrangers (1924)
• Tales From Silver Lands (1924) - This book won the Newbery Medal!
• Robin Hood And His Merry Men (1924)
• Tales Worth Telling (1927)
• Courageous Companions (1929)
• Seven Horizons (1930) - This is his autobiography.
• A Dog At His Heel (1936)
• Our Navy: An Outline History For Young People (1936)
• When Guns Thundered At Tripoli (1937)
• Give A Man A Horse (1938)
• Golden Tales From Far Away (1940)