Ethel Nokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Nokes
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Ethel Louise Nokes
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| Born | Ethel Louise Yeo 4 August 1883 Notting Hill, London, England |
| Died | 28 November 1976 (aged 93) London, England |
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| Period | 1931–1969 |
| Genre | Children's literature |
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| Children | Muriel Ethel Nokes, William Frederick John Nokes |
Ethel Louise Nokes (1883–1976) was a British children's writer. She wrote 21 novels between the 1930s and the 1950s. Some of her books were about horses, and she also wrote a popular series about girls at a school. Many of her stories included gentle Christian messages.
Contents
About Ethel Nokes
Her Early Life and Family
Ethel Nokes was born in London, England, in 1883. She lived most of her life there. She grew up in the Methodist faith, which is a type of Christian religion, and she remained a Methodist throughout her life.
In 1906, Ethel married William Theodore Nokes. They had two children together. Later in life, she also took care of her two grandchildren. This happened after her daughter-in-law and then her son sadly passed away. Ethel lived a long life, reaching over 90 years old, even though her husband died in 1942.
Writing and Religious Themes
Many of Ethel's books had religious themes. They were often published by the Religious Tract Society (RTS). This was a Christian publisher known for famous magazines like the Boys' Own Paper and The Girl's Own Paper. Some of Ethel's books even had the The Girl's Own Paper (GOP) name on them. Later, her books were published by Ward, Lock & Co.. Even with religious messages, her books were known for being light-hearted and funny.
Friends in the Writing World
Ethel Nokes used to teach children at a school in London. While teaching, she became friends with another famous children's author, Enid Blyton. Enid Blyton also taught and wrote poems and books for kids. Some of Blyton's books were also published by the Religious Tract Society. It is thought that Enid Blyton encouraged Ethel Nokes to start writing her own stories.
Her Books Today
Ethel's school stories, like The Fourth Form Gang series, have been highly praised by experts. You can still find all of her novels today through special booksellers. The rarer books can be quite expensive. Sadly, many of the original printing plates for her early books were lost. This happened during a German bombing raid in London during the Second World War.
Ethel also wrote poetry. A small book of her poems was published in 1969.
Ethel Nokes' Books
Here is a list of the books Ethel Nokes wrote:
- Mary's Shining Light, etc., Religious Tract Society, London (1931)
- Grace Give-Away, Carey Press, London (1931)
- Old Brolly, Religious Tract Society, London (1932)
- Three Girls on Holiday, The Girl's Own Paper, London (1932)
- Down Green Crescent, etc. (colour frontispiece by Vernon Soper), Religious Tract Society, London (1932)
- Black Joe, etc., Religious Tract Society/Schomburg Children’s Collection, London (1932)
- Peter the Victor (illustrated by Clifford Lee), Religious Tract Society, London (1932)
- Twelve Help-a-bit Stories, Religious Tract Society, London (1932)
- Great-Aunt Amelia, Religious Tract Society, London (1933)
- Nibs: The Story of a Pony, Religious Tract Society, London (1934) (reprinted in hardback by Lutterworth Press in 1942)
- The House of Many Pages, Religious Tract Society, London (1934)
- The Old Lollipop Shop, Religious Tract Society, London (1935)
- The Girl Who Didn't Belong, Religious Tract Society, London (1935)
- The Fourth Form Gang: A School Story for Girls, Girl's Own Paper/Readers Library Publishing Co., London (1935)
- The Fourth Form Gang Again, Girl's Own Paper/Readers Library Publishing Co., London (1936)
- Sally of the Fourth Form Gang, Religious Tract Society, London (1937)
- That Dog Punch, Girl's Own Paper, London (1937)
- Nibs in Clover: A Billy Bunker Story, Ward, Lock & Co., London and Melbourne (1939)
- The House Next Door, Ward, Lock & Co., London and Melbourne (1946)
- That Ass Neddy (illustrated by Stanley Lloyd), Ward, Lock & Co., London and Melbourne (1948) (reprinted 1954)
- Winking Windows, Ward, Lock & Co., London and Melbourne (1954)
- The Poems of Ethel Nokes (For Young and Old), Arthur H. Stockwell, Ilfracombe, Devon (1969)
