author
Nora Perry
1831–1896
A popular 19th-century American poet and journalist, she wrote sentimental verse, society pieces, and stories for young readers that found a wide audience in magazines and newspapers of her day. Her work moved easily between Boston literary life and the everyday feelings of home, friendship, and romance.
2 Audiobooks
Hope Benham: A Story for Girls
by Nora Perry
A Flock of Girls and Boys
by Nora Perry
About the author
Born in Dudley, Massachusetts, in 1831, Nora Perry grew up partly in Providence, Rhode Island, and became known as a poet, journalist, and writer for children. Reliable reference sources describe her as especially popular in her own time for sentimental poems and prose, and note that she later returned to Dudley, where she died on May 13, 1896.
She published poems and stories in major periodicals and also worked as a Boston correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. Her best-known books include After the Ball (1875), Her Lover's Friend (1879), New Songs and Ballads (1886), and Legends and Lyrics (1890), alongside fiction and books for younger readers.
What makes Perry interesting now is the range of her career: she was part of the lively magazine culture of the late 1800s, yet she also wrote in a direct, accessible way that helped make her a favorite with ordinary readers. Her writing offers a clear glimpse of the tastes, emotions, and reading habits of her era.