Esther Forbes

author

Esther Forbes

1891–1967

Known for bringing early American history vividly to life, this award-winning writer paired careful research with a gift for storytelling. Her books for adults and younger readers helped generations of readers imagine Revolutionary-era New England.

1 Audiobook

A mirror for witches : in which is reflected the life, machinations, and death of famous Doll Bilby, who, with a more than feminine perversity, preferred a demon to a mortal lover; here is also told how and why a righteous and most awfull judgement befell her, destroying both corporeal body and immortal soul

A mirror for witches : in which is reflected the life, machinations, and death of famous Doll Bilby, who, with a more than feminine perversity, preferred a demon to a mortal lover; here is also told how and why a righteous and most awfull judgement befell her, destroying both corporeal body and immortal soul

by Esther Forbes

About the author

Born in Westborough, Massachusetts, in 1891, Esther Forbes grew up surrounded by New England history, a background that shaped much of her writing. She studied at Bradford Academy and went on to build a reputation as a novelist, historian, and writer for young readers.

She is especially remembered for two major books: Paul Revere and the World He Lived In, which won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1943, and Johnny Tremain, her classic novel set in Revolutionary Boston, which won the 1944 Newbery Medal. Her work stood out for blending solid historical research with lively, accessible storytelling.

Forbes also wrote historical fiction for adults and was recognized for her contributions to American letters, including election to the American Antiquarian Society. She died in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1967, but her writing remains a lasting gateway to early American history.