Elisabeth Ogilvie


Elisabeth M. Ogilvie was an American novelist. Ogilvie is best known for writing a series of novels set on islands off the coast of Maine, where she lived as an adult. She died in Cushing, Maine, at the age of 89.

Early life and education

Ogilvie was born in Boston on May 20, 1917, to Frank and Maude Ogilvie. She had three older brothers. Growing up, Ogilvie spent summers on the Maine island of Criehaven. She was raised in Dorchester and Wollaston, and she graduated from North Quincy High School in 1934. Ogilvie did not earn a college degree, but took a writing course at Harvard.

Career

Ogilvie published her first novel, High Tide at Noon in 1944, which was the first of eight novels in the Bennett's Island series. She modeled the setting on Criehaven, the Maine island where she spent summers growing up.
Ogilvie wrote 46 adult, young adult, and children's books. Many of her novels dealt with life in Maine and lobstering families along the coast. She also wrote a series of novels set in Scotland, inspired by her Scottish descent and her travels there. In 1950, Ogilvie published an autobiographical book, My World is an Island, about her life on Gay Island.

Personal life

In 1944, Ogilvie moved to a farm on Gay Island in the town of Cushing, Maine. She lived there for more than 50 years, sharing the house with her longtime companion and friend Dorothy Simpson, and Simpson's husband, Guy.

Death

Ogilvie died of a stroke on September 9, 2006 in Cushing, Maine.

Works published

Series

Bennett Island Family
;Tide Trilogy
  1. High Tide at Noon
  2. The Storm Tide
  3. Ebbing Tide
;Lover's Trilogy
  1. Dawning of the Day
  2. The Seasons Hereafter
  3. Strawberries in the Sea
;Joanna Bennett's Island
  1. An Answer in the Tide
  2. Day Before Winter
;Standalone
Other Series
;Cass Phillips
  1. Blueberry Summer
  2. The Fabulous Year
;Mirabelle Taggart
  1. Weep and Know Why
  2. Dreaming Swimmer
;Jennie Trilogy
  1. Jennie about to Be
  2. World of Jennie G.
  3. ''Jennie Glenroy''

Adult novels

  • Rowan Head
  • How Wide the Heart aka Steady Kind of Love
  • Witch Door
  • Woman's Reputation
  • Call Home the Heart
  • There May be Heaven
  • Waters on a Starry Night
  • Bellwood
  • Theme for Reason
  • Image of a Lover
  • Where the Lost Aprils Are
  • Dancer in Yellow
  • The Devil in Tartan
  • Silent Ones
  • Road to Nowhere
  • ''When the Music Stopped''

Young-adult novels

  • Whistle for a Wind: Maine 1820
  • The Young Islanders
  • Becky's Island
  • Turn Around Twice
  • Ceiling of Amber aka Until the End of Summer
  • Masquerade at Sea House
  • Pigeon Pair
  • Come Aboard and Bring Your Dory
  • Face of Innocence
  • Beautiful Girl
  • Too Young to Know
  • A Forgotten Girl...and a Forgotten Time
  • ''My Summer Love''

Movie Tie-In

Honeymoon, novelization of the screenplay by Michael Kanin from a story by Vicki Baum

Autobiography

  • ''My World is an Island''