author
Hesba Stretton
1832–1911
A hugely popular Victorian writer, she used stories for children to shine a light on poverty, hardship, and faith. Her best-known book, Jessica’s First Prayer, reached an enormous readership in the 19th century and helped make her one of the era’s bestselling authors.
18 Audiobooks
Jessica's First Prayer; and, Jessica's Mother
by Hesba Stretton
Brought Home
by Hesba Stretton
Little Meg's Children
by Hesba Stretton
The Christmas Child
by Hesba Stretton
Fern's Hollow
by Hesba Stretton
Alone in London
by Hesba Stretton
Alone in London
by Hesba Stretton
Cobwebs and Cables
by Hesba Stretton
Two Christmas Stories: Sam Franklin's Savings-Bank; A Miserable Christmas and a Happy New Year
by Hesba Stretton
Margery Beade ja Beden armeliaisuus
by Hesba Stretton
The Doctor's Dilemma
by Hesba Stretton
Half Brothers
by Hesba Stretton
Nelly's dark days
by Hesba Stretton
Lost Gip
by Hesba Stretton
In the hollow of His hand
by Hesba Stretton
"No place like home"
by Hesba Stretton
Yksin Lontoossa
by Hesba Stretton
Two secrets, and, A man of his word
by Hesba Stretton
About the author
Born Sarah Smith in Wellington, Shropshire, on July 27, 1832, she wrote under the pen name Hesba Stretton. She came from an evangelical family connected with bookselling and publishing, and that background shaped both her beliefs and her writing.
Stretton became famous for religious fiction for children, especially stories about poor and vulnerable city children. Her work combined sentiment, social concern, and Christian teaching, and Jessica’s First Prayer became an extraordinary success, selling in very large numbers during her lifetime.
Although remembered mainly as a children’s author, she wrote widely and was one of the notable popular voices of Victorian fiction. She died on October 8, 1911, leaving behind books that give modern readers a vivid sense of 19th-century ideas about charity, childhood, and moral reform.