Marilyn Harris (writer)
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Harris is an American author best known for her seven-novel "Eden"
series, an historical saga about the Eden family of England. The
series contains This Other Eden (1977); The Prince of Eden (1978);
The Eden Passion (1979); The Women of Eden (1980); Eden Rising
(1982); American Eden (1987); and Eden and Honor (1989). She is also
the author of the best selling novel, Hatter Fox (1973), adapted into a 1977 CBS
movie, A Girl Called Hatter Fox.
, Oklahoma
, the daughter of
John P., an oil executive, and Dora (nee
Veal) Harris. Harris was
educated in her home state, attending Cottey College
from 1945 to
1951, then transferring to the University of Oklahoma
, from which she
received a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 and a master of arts
degree in 1955.
by Doubleday in 1967. After that Harris proved a prolific author,
publishing seventeen books, including novels, short stories, romance/
historical fiction and children's fiction in a twenty-year period
from 1970 to 1989. These works, in addition to those listed above,
include In the Midst of Earth (1969), The Peppersalt Land (1970), The
Runaway's Diary (1971), The Conjurers (1974), Bledding Sorrow (1976),
The Portent (1980), The Last Great Love (1981), Warrick (1985), Night
Games (1987), and Lost and Found (1991). Harris's work has received
a wide readership; in 1983, nine million of her books were in print,
and her work has been translated into many languages, including
French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Japanese. She has
also been an author in residence at Oklahoma's Central State University.
Award, in 1970; Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1973, for The Runaway's
Diary; Oklahoma Federation of Writers Teepee Award, 1974; Women in
Communications By-Liner Award, 1975; Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame
Award, 1980; and Cottey College Distinguished Alumna Award, 1981.
Harris is also an O. Henry Award winner.
couple have two children: John P. and Karen Louise. She died in Norman, Oklahoma, on January 18, 2002.
series, an historical saga about the Eden family of England. The
series contains This Other Eden (1977); The Prince of Eden (1978);
The Eden Passion (1979); The Women of Eden (1980); Eden Rising
(1982); American Eden (1987); and Eden and Honor (1989). She is also
the author of the best selling novel, Hatter Fox (1973), adapted into a 1977 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
movie, A Girl Called Hatter Fox.
Early years
Harris was born on June 4, 1931, in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, the daughter of
John P., an oil executive, and Dora (nee
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Veal) Harris. Harris was
educated in her home state, attending Cottey College
Cottey College
Cottey College, located in Nevada, Missouri is a private, two-year women's college that also offers select baccalaureate degree programs. It was founded by Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard in 1884, and is currently owned and supported by the P.E.O...
from 1945 to
1951, then transferring to the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, from which she
received a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 and a master of arts
degree in 1955.
Writing career
Harris's first collection of short stories, King's Ex, was publishedby Doubleday in 1967. After that Harris proved a prolific author,
publishing seventeen books, including novels, short stories, romance/
historical fiction and children's fiction in a twenty-year period
from 1970 to 1989. These works, in addition to those listed above,
include In the Midst of Earth (1969), The Peppersalt Land (1970), The
Runaway's Diary (1971), The Conjurers (1974), Bledding Sorrow (1976),
The Portent (1980), The Last Great Love (1981), Warrick (1985), Night
Games (1987), and Lost and Found (1991). Harris's work has received
a wide readership; in 1983, nine million of her books were in print,
and her work has been translated into many languages, including
French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Japanese. She has
also been an author in residence at Oklahoma's Central State University.
Awards
Among the awards Harris has received are the following: University of Oklahoma LiteraryAward, in 1970; Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1973, for The Runaway's
Diary; Oklahoma Federation of Writers Teepee Award, 1974; Women in
Communications By-Liner Award, 1975; Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame
Award, 1980; and Cottey College Distinguished Alumna Award, 1981.
Harris is also an O. Henry Award winner.
Family
Harris married Edgar V. Springer, Jr., a professor, in 1953; thecouple have two children: John P. and Karen Louise. She died in Norman, Oklahoma, on January 18, 2002.