Meta Mayne Reid facts for kids

Meta Mayne Reid (1905–1991) was a talented writer from Northern Ireland. She is best known for her many exciting children's books. Her stories often took place in Ulster, a part of Ireland she knew well.

Early Life and Education

Meta Mayne Reid was born in 1905 in a place called Woodlesford, Yorkshire. Even though she grew up there, her family was originally from Ulster in Ireland. She had one sister named Audrey.

Meta was taught at home by special teachers called governesses. Later, she went to Leeds Girls' High School. After that, she studied at Manchester University. Her parents eventually moved back to Northern Ireland, to a town called Crawfordsburn. Meta moved there too and later married Dr. E. Mayne Reid.

Writing Career

Meta Mayne Reid wrote more than twenty books for children. Many of her stories were set in Ulster, a region in Northern Ireland. She wrote both historical fiction and modern tales. Some of her books also had a touch of fantasy.

Besides her children's books, she also wrote two novels for adults. She even published a collection of poetry. Meta Mayne Reid was also involved with the Belfast chapter of PEN. This is an organization for writers. She served as its secretary and later as its president from 1970 to 1972.

Children's Books by Meta Mayne Reid

Meta Mayne Reid wrote many popular books for young readers. Here are some of her well-known titles:

• Phelim and the Creatures, 1952
• Carrigmore Castle, 1954
• All Because of Dawks, 1955
• Dawks Does It Again, 1956
• The Cuckoo at Coolnean, 1956
• Tiffany and the Swallow Rhyme, 1956
• Dawks on Robbers' Mountain, 1957
• Dawks and the Duchesss, 1958
• Strangers in Carrigmore, 1958
• The McNeills at Rathcapple, 1959
• Storm on Kildoney, 1961
• Sandy and the Hollow Book, 1961
• The Tobermillin Oracle, 1962
• With Angus in the Forest, 1963
• The Tinkers' Summer, 1965
• The Silver Fighting Cocks, 1966
• The House at Spaniard's Bay, 1967
• The Glen Beyond the Door, 1968
• The Two Rebels, 1969
• Beyond the Wide World's End, 1972
• The Plotters of Pollnashee, 1973
• Snowbound by the Whitewater, 1975
• The Noguls and the Horse, 1976
• A Dog Called Scampi, 1980