John Habberton

Born in Brooklyn in 1842, John Habberton spent much of his childhood in Illinois after his father died. He later served in the Union Army during the Civil War and went on to build a career in publishing and journalism.

Habberton became famous with Helen’s Babies (1876), a comic novel whose mischievous children and affectionate tone made it a lasting favorite. He also wrote other fiction, including stories connected with early California life, while continuing steady work as a literary and drama critic for the New York Herald for many years.

He died in 1921, but his best-known work still gives a clear sense of his style: playful, observant, and amused by the beautiful disorder of family life.