author
Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald
1864–1922
A Canadian poet and storyteller from a remarkable literary family, she wrote with warmth about home, nature, and childhood. Her work ranged from verse and short fiction to children's books, and she was also active in the cause of women's suffrage.
1 Audiobook
Our Little Canadian Cousin
by Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald
About the author
Born in Westcock, New Brunswick, in 1864, Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald was a Canadian writer of poetry, children's literature, essays, and short stories. Reliable biographical sources describe her as part of the gifted Roberts family and note that she was educated in Fredericton, including study at the University of New Brunswick.
She published poems in magazines and newspapers and became known for books such as Dream Verses and Our Little Canadian Cousin. Alongside her literary work, she contributed regularly to Canadian and American periodicals, showing an easy ability to write for both adults and younger readers.
MacDonald also took part in public life beyond the page: sources identify her as one of the leaders of women's suffrage in Canada. She died in Ottawa in 1922, leaving behind a body of work remembered for its gentle lyric voice and strong sense of place.