Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/French, Alice

FRENCH, Alice, author, b. in Andover, Mass., 19 March, 1850. She was graduated at Abbott academy, Andover, in 1868, resides in Davenport, and is the president of the Iowa society of colonial dames. Miss French has gained reputation, under the pen-name of “Octave Thanet,” by her short character sketches and papers on economic subjects. Her most popular stories are “The Bishop's Vagabond,” “The Hay of the Cyclone,” and “Whitsun Harp, Regulator.” These, with other articles that previously appeared in the “Atlantic Monthly” and “ Scribner's Magazine,” were published under the title of “Knittles in the Sun” (Boston, 1880); “Otto the Knight” (1883); “Expiation” (New York, 1886); “We All” (1889); “Stories of a Western Town” (1892); “An Adventure in Photography” (1899); “A Book of True Lovers” (1897); “Missionary Sheriff” (1897); and “The Heart of Toil” (1898).