author
Danske Dandridge
1858–1914
A Danish-born American poet, historian, and garden writer, she became one of the best-known literary voices in late 19th-century West Virginia. Her work moves from lyrical nature poetry to local history, giving readers both beauty and a strong sense of place.
1 Audiobook
American Prisoners of the Revolution
by Danske Dandridge
About the author
Born in Copenhagen on November 19, 1854, Caroline Dane Bedinger was nicknamed "Danske," meaning "little Dane," while her father served as the United States minister to Denmark. Her family returned to the United States in 1857, and she spent most of her life near Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
She first became known for poetry, publishing in magazines and later collecting her work in books such as Joy and Other Poems. Writers of her time recognized her talent, and she came to be regarded as an important West Virginia poet, especially for verse shaped by nature, memory, and regional life.
Her interests reached beyond poetry. She also wrote about gardens and turned to history in later years, producing works including Historic Shepherdstown and American Prisoners of the Revolution. She died on June 3, 1914, leaving behind a body of work that blends literary grace with a deep attachment to her community and its past.