author
Elswyth Thane
1900–1984
Historical romance, biography, and American history came together in the lively work of this prolific author. She is best remembered for her Williamsburg novels, which follow generations of families through the American Revolution, the Civil War, and into the twentieth century.
1 Audiobook
Riders of the wind : a romance
by Elswyth Thane
About the author
Born Helen Ricker in Burlington, Iowa, Elswyth Thane began writing under her pen name after her family moved to New York City. Her first novel, Riders of the Wind, appeared in 1926, and she went on to work as a novelist, journalist, playwright, and screenwriter. Her writing often drew on her lifelong interest in England, biography, and historical research.
Thane became especially known for the Williamsburg series, beginning with Dawn’s Early Light in 1943. She also wrote biographies and historical studies of figures including Elizabeth I, George Washington, Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, and Nathanael Greene. She was married to naturalist and explorer William Beebe and spent her later years on their farm in Wilmington, Vermont; she died in 1984.