John Habberton

John Habberton (1842 - 1921) was an American author. He spent nearly twenty years as the literary and drama critic for the "New York Herald", but he is best known for his stories about early California life. He is the author of Helen's Babies, published in the early 20th Century by George Routledge and Sons, London. Habberton is not listed as the author within the book. The novel is subtitled: "Helen's Babies with some account of their ways...innocent, crafty, angelic, impish, witching and repulsive by THEIR LATEST VICTIM." The book was one of the Ruby Books series for boys and girls. Habberton is acknowledged as the author of the book in an advertisement within the 1903 edition of Andersen's Fairy Tales published by Routledge.

Habberton was also known under the pseudonym "Smelfungus." (Source: Initials and Pseudonyms: A Dictionary of Literary Disguises by Cushing, William).

Partial bibliography

*"All He Knew"
*"Helen's Babies"
*"Romance of California Life"
*"Helen's Babies and Mrs. Mayburns Twins"
*"Canoeing in Kanuckia"
*"Other People's Children"
*"The Scripture Club of Valley Rest"
*"The Barton Expreiment"

External links

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Re: Abovee reference to re: when published, by whom, where and when (and even re: statement that Habberton was not acknowledged.

I have a copy, illustrated, that states the book was Copyright, 1876, by A.K. Loring and Copyright 1881 by T.B. Peterson & Bro. This trade copy's contained drawings are typical of the clothing styles of 19th century, profusely illustrated (line drawings)by Sara Crosby. The cover is illustrated in a blue and red drawing more typical of early 20th Century. The edition credits John Habberton as author and is over-printed (slightly askew) with the name of HURST & COMPANY, Publishers, New York. NOTE: the reference on the title page differs from above description, as: "Helen's Babies - by John Habberton - some account of their ways,innocent, crafty, angelic, impish, witching and repulsive- a partial record of their actions during ten days of their existence" (The book was given as a gift by Alice Marion Hamlet, Boston on December 25, 1915.)

There is a copy of "Canoeing in Kanuckia, or, the Haps and Mishaps Afloat and Ashore of theStatesman, the Editor, the Artist and the Scribler" in the University of Toronto holdings, which is dated 1876 and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons. In this copy there is a list of four books also written by the author: "Other People's Children", "Budge and Toddie" (An illustrated version of "Other People's Children"), "The Scripture Club of Valley Rest", and "The Barton Experiment". Under the entry for "Other People's Children" runs the by-line "by the author of "Helen's Babies".

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