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Rachel Lyman Field

レイチェル・フィールド

Rachel Field

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1894-09-19 （New York City, U.S.）
Died
1942-03-15 （Los Angeles, California, U.S.） age 47
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Stockbridge, Massachusetts (grew up) → Hollywood, Los Angeles, California (later life)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Poet, Children's author, Playwright, Lyricist
Active Years
1924-1944
Influenced By
George Pierce Baker (teacher)

Education

Radcliffe College
Writing/English
Country: United States
Studied writing under George Pierce Baker

Awards

Newbery Medal
1930
Work: Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Organization: American Library Association / Association for Library Service to Children
Result: 受賞
National Book Award (Most Distinguished Novel)
1935
Work: Time Out of Mind
Organization: American Booksellers Association
Result: 受賞
Caldecott Medal
1945
Work: Prayer for a Child
Organization: American Library Association / Association for Library Service to Children
Result: 受賞（没後）
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (selected)
1958
Work: Prayer for a Child
Organization: Not specified
Result: 選定
Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (selected)
1961
Work: Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Organization: Not specified
Result: 選定

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Hitty, Her First Hundred Years

1929 Children's fiction

A children's novel narrated from the perspective of a small doll named Hitty, recounting its travels and owners over a century, depicting human lives and social change through the doll's experiences.

HistoryTravelOwnership and memoryComing of age (symbolic)

Time Out of Mind

1935 Adult novel

A novel set in contemporary America exploring social contexts and inner lives of characters; awarded as one of the most distinguished novels of 1935.

Interpersonal relationshipsSocial critiquePsychological interiority

All This and Heaven Too

1938 Historical novel / Adult fiction

A historical novel based on the true story of the author's great-aunt, depicting a tragic romantic affair; it became a bestseller and was adapted into a film.

Love and tragedySocial scandalClass and power
Adaptations
  • [Film] All This, and Heaven Too / 未指定 (1940)

Prayer for a Child

1944 Picture book / Children's literature

A picture book pairing Field's short prayer-like text with illustrations by Elizabeth Orton Jones; published posthumously and winner of the Caldecott Medal.

PrayerChildhoodComfort
Adaptations
  • [Music / Choral work] A Child's Prayer (1955)

And Now Tomorrow

1942 Adult fiction

A human drama set against the late 1930s and early 1940s; adapted into a film after the author's death.

RecoveryPersonal growthInterpersonal dynamics
Adaptations
  • [Film] And Now Tomorrow / Irving Pichel (1944)

Calico Bush

1931 Children's / Historical fiction

A story set among the islands of Maine, noted for its vivid local color and depiction of characters.

NatureCourageCommunity

English lyrics for Schubert's "Ave Maria" (used in Fantasia)

1940 Lyric / Film lyrics

Wrote English lyrics for Schubert's "Ellens dritter Gesang (Ave Maria)", used in Disney's film Fantasia.

Religious/Prayerful expressionFilm music
Adaptations
  • [Film] Used in Fantasia / 未指定 (1940)

Bibliography

  • 1924 The Pointed People (poetry)
  • 1924 Cinderella Married (play)
  • 1924 Six Plays
  • 1926 Taxis and Toadstools (poetry)
  • 1926 Eliza and the Elves
  • 1926 An Alphabet for Boys and Girls
  • 1927 The Magic Pawnshop
  • 1928 Little Dog Toby
  • 1929 Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
  • 1930 A Circus Garland: Poems
  • 1931 Calico Bush
  • 1932 Hepatica Hawks
  • 1933 Just Across the Street
  • 1934 Branches Green (poetry)
  • 1935 Time Out of Mind
  • 1938 All This and Heaven Too
  • 1942 And Now Tomorrow
  • 1944 Prayer for a Child (picture book, illus. Elizabeth Orton Jones)

Adaptations

  • All This and Heaven Too → 1940 film adaptation
  • And Now Tomorrow → 1944 film adaptation
  • English lyrics for "Ave Maria" → used in 1940's Fantasia

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Lyrical and descriptiveAccessible narrative voice for children's workCareful period detail in historical fiction
Recurring Motifs
New England settings (islands/coast)Memory and objects (dolls, keepsakes)Prayer and religious imageryFamily and social scandal

Health

  • Pneumonia (post-operative complication)
    1942
    Died following postoperative pneumonia. Some works were published posthumously.

Legacy

Rachel Field achieved success in both children's and adult fiction, winning major awards such as the Newbery Medal and a National Book Award. Her New England settings and gentle voice for children have been praised, and several works have been adapted for film and music.

Archives

  • Radcliffe College Archives / Schlesinger Library: Papers, 1845–1942
  • Mortimer Rare Book Collection, Smith College Special Collections: Rachel Field collection
  • Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library: Rachel Field Collection

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptations such as All This, and Heaven Too
  • Use of her English lyrics for 'Ave Maria' in Disney's Fantasia

Trivia

  • There is a publicity anecdote that she was informed of her Newbery win by radio while she was flying, with librarians chasing in a second plane.
  • She wrote the English lyrics for Schubert's 'Ave Maria' used in Fantasia.
  • She was a descendant of David Dudley Field.
  • The posthumously published Prayer for a Child won the Caldecott Medal.