George Madden Martin

author

George Madden Martin

1866–1946

Best known for the warmly observed Emmy Lou stories, this Kentucky writer captured childhood with humor, sympathy, and an eye for everyday social life. She also built a long career in fiction and drama while taking an active interest in civic and cultural causes.

6 Audiobooks

About the author

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 3, 1866, she wrote under the pen name George Madden Martin, though her given name was Georgia May Madden. She became known as an American writer of short stories, novels, and plays, and much of her reputation rests on the popular Emmy Lou books.

Her work often drew praise for its lively, affectionate picture of childhood, especially the small embarrassments and triumphs of growing up. Beyond her writing, sources describe her as a figure involved in Louisville's cultural life and as someone remembered not only as a novelist but also as a social activist.

She died in Louisville on November 30, 1946. Today, her books remain accessible through public-domain libraries, where readers can still discover the charm and wit that made her stories endure.