author

Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman) O'Neill

b. 1877

Best known for lively history and language books for younger readers, this early 20th-century writer had a gift for making big subjects feel clear, friendly, and approachable. Her work ranges from simple world history to curious explorations of how everyday words got their start.

1 Audiobook

Stories That Words Tell Us

Stories That Words Tell Us

by Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman) O'Neill

About the author

Elizabeth Speakman O'Neill was a British author born in 1877. Public-domain library records and author listings identify her as the writer of books including The Story of the World: A Simple History for Boys and Girls, Stories That Words Tell Us, and The War, 1914: A History and an Explanation for Boys and Girls.

Her books suggest a clear specialty: explaining history, language, and current events for younger readers without talking down to them. Many of her works were written as introductions, aiming to make large subjects easier to grasp and more interesting to explore.

Available catalog records also place her death in 1951. I wasn't able to confirm a reliable portrait image from the sources I checked, so none is included here.