Rebecca Sophia Clarke

Rebecca Sophia Clarke (February 22, 1833 – August 10, 1906),[1] also known as Sophie May, was an American author of children's fiction.

She was tutored at home in the classical languages of Greek and Latin and attended school at the Norridgewock Female Academy.

[2] Along with her well-rounded education, preparation for her role as a writer probably began with her diary, which she kept from ages nine to eleven, diligently recording the sermons, debates and lectures she attended.

Her teaching career ended 10 years later due to a severe hearing loss and in 1861, she returned to her family home in Maine where she lived with her sister, Sarah Jones Clarke (1840-1929), who also wrote children's books and used the pen name, Penn Shirley.

[2] After several months of "feeble health", Clarke died in Norridgewock, at the age of 73, on August 16, 1906.