Anna Katharine Green
Encyclopedia
Anna Katharine Green was an American
poet
and novel
ist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction
in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories.
, New York
on November 11, 1846.
Green had an early ambition to write romantic verse, and she corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson
. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, she produced her first and best known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878), praised by Wilkie Collins, and the hit of the year. She became a bestselling
author, eventually publishing about 40 books.
She is credited with shaping detective fiction into its classic form, and developing the series detective. Her main character was detective Ebenezer Gryce of the New York Metropolitan Police Force, but in three novels he is assisted by the nosy society spinster Amelia Butterworth, the prototype for Miss Marple, Miss Silver and other creations. She also invented the 'girl detective': in the character of Violet Strange, a debutante with a secret life as a sleuth.
Green was in some ways a progressive woman for her time—succeeding in a genre
dominated by male writers—but she did not approve of many of her feminist
contemporaries, and she was opposed to women's suffrage
.
On November 25, 1884, Green married the actor
and stove designer, and later furniture maker, Charles Rohlfs
, who was seven years her junior. Several years after they were married.
Rohlfs toured in a dramatization of Green's The Leavenworth Case. After his theater career faltered, he became a furniture maker in 1897, and Green collaborated with him on some of his designs.
They had one daughter and two sons: Roland Rohlfs
and Sterling Rohlfs, who were test pilots.
Green died on April 11, 1935 in Buffalo, New York
, at the age of 88.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories.
Life and work
She was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on November 11, 1846.
Green had an early ambition to write romantic verse, and she corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, she produced her first and best known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878), praised by Wilkie Collins, and the hit of the year. She became a bestselling
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
author, eventually publishing about 40 books.
She is credited with shaping detective fiction into its classic form, and developing the series detective. Her main character was detective Ebenezer Gryce of the New York Metropolitan Police Force, but in three novels he is assisted by the nosy society spinster Amelia Butterworth, the prototype for Miss Marple, Miss Silver and other creations. She also invented the 'girl detective': in the character of Violet Strange, a debutante with a secret life as a sleuth.
Green was in some ways a progressive woman for her time—succeeding in a genre
Literary genre
A literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even length. Genre should not be confused with age category, by which literature may be classified as either adult, young-adult, or children's. They also must not be confused...
dominated by male writers—but she did not approve of many of her feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
contemporaries, and she was opposed to women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
.
On November 25, 1884, Green married the actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and stove designer, and later furniture maker, Charles Rohlfs
Charles Rohlfs
Charles Rohlfs , was an American actor, stove designer and furniture maker. Rohlfs is a representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and is most famous for his skill as a furniture designer and maker.-Life and career:...
, who was seven years her junior. Several years after they were married.
Rohlfs toured in a dramatization of Green's The Leavenworth Case. After his theater career faltered, he became a furniture maker in 1897, and Green collaborated with him on some of his designs.
They had one daughter and two sons: Roland Rohlfs
Roland Rohlfs
Test pilot Roland Rohlfs was a distinguished American aviator.-Background:He was the son of Anna Katharine Green , the famous American crime novelist, and her husband, actor and renowned furniture craftsman, Charles Rohlfs....
and Sterling Rohlfs, who were test pilots.
Green died on April 11, 1935 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, at the age of 88.
Selected works
- The Leavenworth Case (1878)
- A Strange Disappearance (1880)
- Hand and Ring (1883)
- Behind Closed Doors (1888)
- Forsaken Inn (1890)
- Marked "Personal" (1893)
- The Doctor, His Wife, and the Clock (1895)
- The Affair Next Door (1897)
- Lost Man's Lane (1898)
- The Circular Study (1900)
- The Filigree Ball (1903)
- The House in the Mist (1905)
- The Millionaire Baby (1905)
- The Woman in the Alcove (1906)
- The House of the Whispering Pines (1910)
- Initials Only (1911)
- The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow (1917)
- The Step on the Stair (1923)
Further reading
- Maida, Patricia D. (1989) Mother of Detective Fiction: the life and works of Anna Katherine Green Bowling Green State University Popular Press.
- Murch, Alma (1958) The Development of the Detective Novel P. Owen, London.
- Landrum, Larry (1999) American Mystery and Detective Novels: a reference guide Greenwood Press, Westport CT.