author
Martha Trent
Known today mainly for a string of World War I-era girls' novels, this early 20th-century writer created fast-moving stories set in England, Italy, Belgium, and America. Her books were written for young readers and blend wartime drama with courage, friendship, and everyday life.
1 Audiobook
Lucia Rudini: Somewhere in Italy
by Martha Trent
About the author
Martha Trent was an early 20th-century author whose best-known books appeared around 1918. Records from library and public-domain catalogues link her to titles such as Lucia Rudini: Somewhere in Italy, Marieken de Bruin: Somewhere in Belgium, and Alice Blythe: Somewhere in England.
These books were part of a wartime series for younger readers, with stories centered on girls living through the First World War in different countries. The novels were published by Barse & Hopkins and Goldsmith, and several were illustrated by Charles L. Wrenn.
Very little biographical information about her seems to survive in the readily available sources, so her work is better documented than her life. What does come through clearly is her focus on accessible historical fiction for children, especially stories that brought the experiences of wartime Europe and America to young readers.