Kathleen Norris

Kathleen Norris in 1925.

For the contemporary poet/essayist of the same name (b.1947), see Kathleen Norris (poet)

Kathleen Thompson Norris (July 16, 1880, San Francisco, California – January 18, 1966, Palo Alto, California) was an American novelist and wife of fellow writer Charles Norris, whom she wed in 1909. Her brother-in-law was writer Frank Norris.

Life and career

Norris was educated in a special course at the University of California and began her career as a newspaper writer in San Francisco. She started writing stories, and eventually had several published in magazines before turning her attention to novel-writing. Norris wrote many popular romance novels that some considered sentimental and honest in their prose. She was the highest-paid female writer of her time, and many of her novels are held in high regard today. Many of her novels were set in California, particularly the San Francisco area. They feature detailed descriptions of the upper-class lifestyle. After 1910 she contributed to the Atlantic, The American Magazine, McClure's, Everybody's, Ladies' Home Journal and Woman's Home Companion. Norris was also a member of the America First Committee, which opposed American intervention in World War II.

At least two of her novels were made into films: My Best Girl (1927), starring Mary Pickford and Manhattan Love Song (1934), which was released under the title Change of Heart, starring Janet Gaynor.

Her granddaughter Kathleen Norris (San Francisco 1 Mar 1935-San Francisco 8 Dec 1967) was a wife of Prince Andrew Romanov (b.London 21 Jan 1923).

Selected bibliography

• Mother (1911; new edition, 1913)
• The Rich Mrs. Burgoyne (1912)
• Poor Dear Margaret Kirby (1913)
• The Treasure (1914)
• Saturday's Child (1914)
• The Story Of Julia Page (1915)
• The Heart of Rachel (1916)
• Martie the Unconquered (1917)
• Josselyn's Wife (1918)
• Harriet and the Piper (1920)
• The Beloved Woman (1921)
• Little Ships (1925)
• The Sea Gull (1925?)
• The Foolish Virgin (1927)
• Younger Sister (1928)
• Second Hand Wife (1932)
• Maiden Voyage (1934)
• Beauty's Daughter (1935), adapted for the 1935 motion picture Navy Wife
• Shining Windows (1935)
• Bread into Roses (1936)
• Over at the Crowleys (1941)
• The Venables (1941)

References

External links

Biography portal

• Guide to the Norris Family Papers at The Bancroft Library
• Kathleen Norris entries as found in Library of Congress Online Catalog search
• Kathleen Norris Obituary, New York Times
• Kathleen Norris Obituary, TIME Magazine
• Kathleen Norris at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by Kathleen Thompson Norris at Project Gutenberg
• Kathleen Norris at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Norris, Kathleen
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 16, 1880
Place of birth
Date of death	January 18, 1966
Place of death