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John Bennett

ジョン・ベネット

John Bennett

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1865-05-14 （Chillicothe, Ohio, United States）
Died
1956-12-28 age 91
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Chillicothe, Ohio (birth) → New York City (residence/activity) → Charleston, South Carolina (moved 1898, long-term residence)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Illustrator, Children's author
Active Years
1890-1956
Memberships
Poetry Society of South Carolina (co-founder/active)
Influenced By
Folk traditions and folktales, Contemporaries in the Charleston literary scene
Influenced
Writers of the Charleston Renaissance and regional cultural revival, Later children's authors adapting folk tales

Education

Art Students' League of New York
Period: 1890年代（中頃）
Country: United States
Enrolled mid-1890s; dropped out after the success of Master Skylark to pursue writing full time.

Awards

Newbery Honor (runner-up)
1929
Work: The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo
Organization: American Library Association
Result: runner-up

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Master Skylark: A Story of Shakespeare's Time

1897 Children's literature, historical fiction

A story about a boy in Elizabethan England who is kidnapped into a company of actors. Published in 1897, it became a bestseller and is regarded as a classic of children's literature.

Coming of ageFriendshipTheatre and historical setting
Adaptations
  • [Play (dramatization)] Master Skylark (dramatization) / Edgar White Burrill (adaptation by) (1909)

Barnaby Lee

1900 Children's literature

A children's book published in 1900. Detailed synopsis is not provided here.

AdventureHistorical setting

The Treasure of Peyre Gaillard

1906 Children's literature, incorporates folk tales

Set on the Medway plantation, the book incorporates Gullah tales and motifs into its narrative.

Folk talesRegional culture

The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo

1928 Folk-tale collection, children's literature

A collection of humorous folktales from around the world, notable for its 200 silhouette illustrations. It was a Newbery runner-up in 1929.

FolktalesHumorIllustration (silhouettes)

The Doctor to the Dead: Grotesque Legends and Folk Tales of Old Charleston

1946 Folk-tale collection, grotesque legends

A collection of grotesque legends and folk tales from old Charleston.

GrotesqueLocal legends

Bibliography

  • Master Skylark: A Story of Shakespeare's Time (1897)
  • Barnaby Lee (1900)
  • The Treasure of Peyre Gaillard (1906)
  • Madame Margot: A Grotesque Legend of Old Charleston (1921)
  • The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo (1928)
  • The Doctor to the Dead: Grotesque Legends and Folk Tales of Old Charleston (1946)

Adaptations

  • Stage dramatizations of Master Skylark (multiple adaptations)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Storytelling suited for childrenCollection and retelling of folktalesVisual expression using silhouette-style illustrations
Recurring Motifs
Folktales and oral traditionGrotesque legendsGullah culture

Health

  • Eyestrain, depressive episodes
    1890年代（初期）およびその後の病歴に断続的に出現
    Affected his creative work; he moved/recuperated in warmer climates on medical advice. He developed dependence on patent medicines containing cocaine and later recovered and resumed writing.
  • Cocaine addiction (from patent medicines)
    1890年代（初期）
    Caused interruption of creative activity and health deterioration; recovered around 1891.

Legacy

A writer who contributed to the Charleston Renaissance by promoting children's literature and regional folktales. Master Skylark is regarded as a classic of children's literature; The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo was a 1929 Newbery runner-up. His silhouette illustrations are also admired. His papers are held by the South Carolina Historical Society.

Academic Societies

  • Poetry Society of South Carolina (co-founder/associated)

Archives

  • South Carolina Historical Society (John Bennett papers)

In Popular Culture

  • Master Skylark has been regarded as a children's classic and was listed on McCall's 1956 list of 100 best books.

Trivia

  • He created 200 silhouette illustrations for The Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo.
  • He was inspired to write Master Skylark following a suggestion from his sister.
  • Enrolled at the Art Students' League but left after the success of Master Skylark to write full time.