Emilia Marryat facts for kids

Emilia Marryat (born October 1835 – died April 20, 1875) was an English author who wrote books for children. Her father, Captain Frederick Marryat, was also a famous writer. Emilia followed his lead by adding important life lessons to her adventure stories. Sometimes, she used her married name, Emilia Marryat Norris, when she published books.

About Emilia Marryat

Emilia was born in Devonport, Plymouth, England. Some of her books, like Amongst the Maoris (1874), were set in exciting places like the Pacific and New Zealand. Amongst the Maoris was the first novel to be set in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. Even though two of her books were about Australia, it's not known if she ever visited there.

Her father, Frederick Marryat, was a Royal Naval officer and a well-known author. He wrote popular sea adventure novels, such as Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). Her father's success inspired Emilia and two of her sisters to become writers too. Augusta wrote adventure stories like Left to Themselves: A Boy's Adventure in Australia (1878). Florence was a very busy author who wrote many exciting novels.

Emilia's Marriage and Family

On May 23, 1862, Emilia Marryat married Henry Edmonds Norris. They were married at St Thomas Church, Winchester, England. Emilia and Henry quickly had three children: Frank Marryat Norris (born 1864), Hensleigh (born 1865), and Helen Emilia (born 1866).

The family lived in Charmouth, Dorset, England, in 1871. Frank, inspired by his famous grandfather, became a second mate in the British Navy. He later moved to Australia and then to New Zealand. Helen married Francis William Jenkins in 1892.

Emilia's Passing

Emilia Marryat died in Charmouth, Dorset, England, in 1875. She was 44 years old. Her sister Augusta wrote a special note in the preface of Emilia's last book. Augusta said that Emilia loved children and wanted to help them with her stories. She hoped that young readers would see the book as a gift from someone who cared about them.

Emilia's Written Works

Illustration by Augusta Marryat from The Children's Pic-Nic and What Came of It (1868)

While Emilia Marryat Norris is mostly known for her children's books, her first two novels were actually for adults.

Her first book, Temper (1854), was about a child named Lawrence who had a very bad temper. The story showed how his parents' actions made his temper worse. As an adult, Lawrence's temper caused serious problems for his family.

Her next book, Henry Lyle; or, Life and Existence (1856), was about a kind young man, Henry Lyle. He tried to help people in his community find purpose and jobs. For example, he helped a teenager named Willy Benson overcome learning difficulties through education.

Emilia also wrote Every-day (1861). This book was a guide for parents on how to raise children well. She warned parents not to treat any child unfairly or show favoritism. She believed that unfairness could cause deep sadness later in life.

All her later books were stories for children. These books often showed children experiencing life or gave advice on how children should behave. Her first children's book was Long Evenings, or, Stories for My Little Friends (1861). The Early Start in Life (1867) taught values like being good, working hard, and having self-control.

Emilia's sister Augusta illustrated The Children's Pic-Nic and What Came of It (1868). This was a special collaboration between the sisters. Emilia also wrote other popular children's books like What Became of Tommy (1866) and Alda Graham, and her brother Philip (1872). Emilia used pictures by different artists to make her stories fun and relatable for young readers.

Selected Books by Emilia Marryat

Books for Adults

• Temper (1854)
• Henry Lyle; or, Life and Existence (1856)
• Every-day (1861)

Books for Children

• Long Evenings, or, Stories for My Little Friends (1861)
• Harry at School: A Story for Boys (1862)
• A Week by Themselves (1865)
• What Became of Tommy (1866)
• The Early Start in Life (1867)
• The Children's Pic-Nic and What Came of it (1868)
• The Stolen Cherries, or Tell the Truth at Once (1869)
• Geoffrey's Great Fault (1870)
• Adrift on the Sea; or, the Children's Escape (1870)
• Alda Graham, and her brother Philip (1872)
• Snowed Up; or, the Hut in the Forest (1873)
• Amongst the Maoris (1874)
• The Sea-Side Home and the Smugglers' Cave (1875)
• Paul Howard's Captivity and Why He Escaped (1876)