Stretton, Hesba

HESBA STRETTON (1832-1911) was born in Wellington, England. She had the good fortune of being able to read books from her father's bookshop, a printer of evangelical literature. Her mother was a strong evangelical, but died when Sarah was young. When Sarah Smith began writing, Hesba Stretton was her pen name, Stretton coming from the name of a neighboring village, and Hesba coming from the initials of her siblings. She wrote "Jessica's First Prayer" in 1867, which became one of her most beloved stories. It sold very well and was translated into many languages. Other best sellers were "Little M...