Anya Seton (January 23, 1904 – November 8, 1990), born Ann Seton, was an American author of historical fiction, or as she preferred they be called, "biographical novels".

Early life and education

Anya Seton was born Ann Seton on January 23, 1904, at her parents' Bryant Park apartment in New York City. Her father, Ernest Thompson Seton, was Boy Scouts of America co-founder, naturalist, and author. Ernest, a British immigrant, has notable Scottish lineage in Northumberland. Her mother was Grace Gallatin Seton Thompson, an author, suffragist, two-time president of the National League of American Pen Women, and founder of the Campfire Girls.

Seton was primarily educated by private tutors and graduated from Spence School. She graduated on May 17, 1921, with a diploma in English but she never attended college. The Setons were wealthy, and Seton often traveled with her parents. Since her parents were often busy with their careers, Seton spent much time with her governess. Most of her novels have been recently republished, several with forewords by Philippa Gregory. In 2003, Katherine was chosen as Britain’s 95th best-loved novel of all time in a nationwide poll conducted by the BBC.

Her 1962 novel Devil Water concerns James, the luckless Earl of Derwentwater and his involvement with the Jacobite rising of 1715. She also narrates the story of his brother Charles, beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, the last man to die for the cause. The action of the novel moves back and forth between Northumberland, Tyneside, London, and Virginia. Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for Northumberland. She certainly visited her Snowdon cousins at Felton. Billy Pigg, the celebrated Northumbrian piper played "Derwentwater's Farewell" especially for her. The novel shows her typical thorough research of events and places, though the accents are a little wayward. Seton said that her greatest debt of all was to Amy Flagg of Westoe Village in South Shields, her father's birthplace.

Personal life

thumb|right|250px|The grave of Anya Seton in [[Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich, Connecticut]]

Seton married twice. Her first marriage was to Hamilton "Ham" Cottier, a Rhodes scholar, whom she married when she was 19 years old. They later built a home called Sea Rune in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. They divorced in 1968, though Seton continued to live at Sea Rune until her death.

  • Katherine (1954)
  • Devil Water (1962)