Margaret Lane facts for kids
Margaret Lane (born June 23, 1907 – died February 14, 1994) was a talented British writer. She was a journalist, wrote biographies (life stories), and also wrote novels. Margaret wrote over 24 books during her life. She was also married to Francis Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon.
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Early Life and Education
Margaret Lane was born on June 23, 1907. Her father, Harry George Lane, was also a journalist. This might have inspired her own career in writing.
She went to school at St Stephen's College. Later, she studied at St Hugh's College, Oxford, which is a famous university in England.
Margaret Lane's Writing Career
After finishing university, Margaret Lane started her career as a reporter. She worked for the Daily Express newspaper from 1928 to 1931. Then, she became a special correspondent for the International News Service from 1931 to 1932. She also wrote for the Daily Mail newspaper from 1932 to 1938.
Margaret Lane became well-known for writing biographies. She wrote two books about the famous children's author, Beatrix Potter. These books were The Tale of Beatrix Potter: a Biography (published in 1946) and The Magic Years of Beatrix Potter (published in 1978).
In 1984, the BBC made a TV show about Beatrix Potter's life. It was based on Margaret Lane's books. The show was called The Tale of Beatrix Potter and was praised for being a simple yet powerful story.
Margaret Lane also wrote about other famous people and families. She wrote a book about the Brontë sisters in 1953. These sisters were also famous writers. In 1975, she wrote a book about Samuel Johnson, an important English writer.
Overall, Margaret Lane wrote more than two dozen books. Her works included novels, travel books about different places, and even books for children.
Margaret Lane's Family Life
In 1934, Margaret Lane married Bryan Wallace. He was the son of another writer named Edgar Wallace. Their marriage ended in 1939. Margaret Lane had written a biography about Edgar Wallace in 1938.
In 1944, she married Francis Hastings, 16th Earl of Huntingdon. He was a nobleman. They had two daughters together. Their first daughter, Lady Selina Shirley Hastings, was born in 1945 and also became a writer. Their second daughter, Lady Caroline Harriet Hastings, was born in 1946.
Margaret Lane passed away in Southampton on February 14, 1994.
Selected Books by Margaret Lane
- The Tale of Beatrix Potter: a Biography (1946)
- The Brontë Story (1953)
- Samuel Johnson and His World (1975)
- The Magic Years of Beatrix Potter (1978)
