Classic Authors: Madeleine L'Engle

Although readers know Madeleine L’Engle primarily for her work in children’s literature, the elderly writer does not consider herself to be a children’s author. In fact, she dismisses labels altogether. Instead, she points to her large body of work, which consists of over 60 books on a variety of subjects and reading levels. Throughout her career, Madeleine has written in many genres–poetry, fiction, memoirs, biblical commentary, essays and journals–which affirms the greatness and diversity of her skill. Now in her early 80s, Madeleine remains an excellent writer of novels that will carry her name well into the future.

Madeleine L’Engle Camp was born on November 29, 1918, in New York City. Her parents were eager to have a family, but because of medical problems they were only able to have one child. Thus, Madeleine grew up as an only child. Her father, Charles Wadsworth Camp, worked as a writer and drama critic. Her mother, Madeleine Hall Barrett Camp, was a pianist. Madeleine remembers that her childhood home teemed with artists of all types. She also recalls that the house was filled with books and that her parents would read aloud to each other every night. The rich, creative atmosphere of her childhood led Madeleine to discover her own unique talent: writing.

School provided Madeleine with an education, but she soon found that she enjoyed writing stories and poems more than doing her homework. Her grades suffered, but her storytelling skills flourished. When she was 12 years old, Madeleine moved to the French Alps with her parents. There, she attended an English boarding school, where her love for writing continued to grow. The family later returned to the U.S., where Madeleine finished her high school career. She then attended Smith College, where she studied English and graduated with honors in 1941.

After college, Madeleine moved to an apartment in Greenwich Village, New York, where she worked for the theater. The job gave her a chance to expand her acting skills, and her flexible schedule allowed her ample time to devote to writing. Her first two novels, A Small Rain(1945) and Ilsa were published during this period. It was also because of her stint in the theater that she met actor Hugh Franklin, with whom she was to enjoy 40 years of marriage.

The couple had a baby girl, after which they moved to Connecticut to rear their family away from the bustle of the city. The Franklins bought a country store, which Hugh ran for nine years. Madeleine cared for their three children by day and wrote by night. Eventually, the family returned to New York, where Hugh resumed his professional acting career. The home in Connecticut, called Crosswicks, still belongs to the family.

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