Sophie May

Born Rebecca Sophia Clarke in Norridgewock, Maine, on February 22, 1833, she wrote under the pen name Sophie May and became one of the best-known American writers for children of her era. Before turning fully to writing, she taught school in Indiana, and that classroom experience helped shape her clear, natural way of writing about childhood.

Clarke drew inspiration from her nieces and nephews and became known for stories that felt realistic, affectionate, and genuinely funny. Between 1860 and 1903, she wrote 45 books, with the Little Prudy series among her most popular works. Readers and reference sources alike note that her books stood out for their humor, sympathy, and lack of heavy-handed moralizing.

She spent most of her life in her hometown of Norridgewock, where she died in 1906. Today, Sophie May is remembered as an early and influential voice in children’s literature, helping move it toward a livelier, more believable picture of family life.