Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Initially, the couple lived separately-Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available-local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.Īt 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer.

The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.Įdith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland 15 August 1858 – ) was an English author and poet she published her books for children under the name of E.

The magic city by e nesbit