author
Mary E. Blain
1872–1950
Best remembered for lively books of party games and holiday amusements, this early 20th-century American writer helped generations of children and families turn gatherings into play. Writing under the name Mary E. Blain, she became especially associated with festive classics like Games for Hallow-e'en.
2 Audiobooks
Games for Hallow-e'en
by Mary E. Blain
Games for All Occasions
by Mary E. Blain
About the author
Mary E. Blain was the pen name of Mary Emma Salisbury Barse (1872–1950), an American writer whose books focused on games, entertainments, and activities for children and social occasions. Library and public-domain catalog records connect the name Mary E. Blain with works such as Games for All Occasions, while other catalog listings identify Mary Emma Salisbury Barse as the person behind the pseudonym.
Her books were practical, cheerful, and easy to use, offering ideas for parties, holidays, and group fun rather than fiction in the usual sense. She is especially remembered for Games for Hallow-e'en and for similar collections that reflected the popular family and parlor entertainments of the early 1900s.
Because her work was designed to be useful as well as entertaining, it has stayed visible through digital libraries and reprints long after its first publication. Readers who enjoy vintage celebrations, folklore-inspired party customs, and old-fashioned group games still find her books a fun window into the social life of her era.