M. B. (Margaret Bertha) Synge

Born in 1868, Margaret Bertha Synge was an Irish writer who published as M. B. Synge. She is best remembered for popular nonfiction books that introduced young readers to big subjects such as exploration, geography, and scientific discovery in a clear, engaging way.

Her best-known books include A Book of Discovery and other works of historical and educational storytelling. Rather than writing like a textbook, she framed real events as adventures and human dramas, which made complex history easier to follow and more exciting to read.

Synge died in 1939. Although she is not as widely known today as some of her contemporaries, her books remain part of the long tradition of writing that opened up history and travel for young readers.