| Jane Goodwin Austin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Jane Goodwin February 25, 1851 Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 30, 1894 (aged 43) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Genres | Historical fiction |
| Notable work(s) | Betty Alden: the first-born daughter of the Pilgrims[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Henry Austin |
| Children | Rose Standish Austin, Le Baron Loring Austin, Lilian Ivers De Silva |
Jane Goodwin Austin (Feb. 25, 1851 - March 30, 1894), born Mary Jane Goodwin, was an American writer, notable for her popular stories of the time. During her lifetime, she was the author of 24 books and numerous short stories.[2] Her friends throughout her life were some of the most well-known American authors, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott.[3]
Austin was born on February 25, 1831, in Worcester, Massachusetts to Isaac Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammatt.[4] Jane's father died in 1833, when she was only two. Behind him, he left a large archive of historical and legal documents from the Pilgrims. Her works, a large portion of which were historical fiction, were accurate and reasonable through the impact her father's love of history had had on her.[4] As a child, she was educated at nine different private schools in Boston.[1]