author
F. Burge (Frances Burge) Griswold
1826–1900
A prolific 19th-century American writer, she is best remembered for moral tales and Sunday school fiction written with warmth, energy, and a strong Episcopal background. Her books also ranged into poetry and stories for children, giving her a wide place in popular religious reading of her era.
2 Audiobooks
The Elm Tree Tales
by F. Burge (Frances Burge) Griswold
The Old Market-Cart
by F. Burge (Frances Burge) Griswold
About the author
Born Frances Irene Burge on April 28, 1826, in Wickford, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of Episcopal minister Rev. Lemuel Burge. She later wrote under several names, including F. Burge Smith, Mrs. S. B. Phelps, and Fan-Fan, before becoming best known as F. Burge Griswold.
She built a substantial career as a writer of Sunday school tales, religious fiction, poetry, and children's books. Among the works most often associated with her are the Bishop and Nanette series, Miriam's Reward, the Fan-Fan Stories, and Asleep, all of which reflect her interest in moral storytelling and everyday faith.
Griswold died on November 11, 1900. Though not as widely read today as some of her contemporaries, she left behind a large body of accessible, heartfelt writing that offers a vivid glimpse into the devotional and family reading culture of 19th-century America.