 Celebrated author Madeleine L’Engle Camp ’41 died Thursday, September 6, at the age of 88. L’Engle, best-known for her classic tale A Wrinkle in Time, expressed interest in writing at an early age and at the time of her death had written more than fifty books of fiction and nonfiction as well as collections of poetry, short stories, plays, and memoirs. A Wrinkle in Time, published in 1962, was awarded the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal for best children’s book and was adapted for the screen.
L’Engle graduated from Smith with a degree in English and later said that her experience at Smith gave her a sense of confidence that served her well in life. “I left Smith assuming that all doors were open to me,” she said. “That’s a useful attitude for opening the occasional closed one.”
In 1986, the college awarded L’Engle an honorary degree. Through the years, she had returned to campus on numerous occasions to share stories with students about her life and encourage them to pursue their passions. In a discussion on campus in 1997, L’Engle told students that honesty is the most important quality to successful storytelling. “If my readers don’t believe it, then it’s not true,” she said.
Please share your memories of L’Engle and her work in the space below. |
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Sharon Samulelson
10 Sep 2007, 16:43
She will be dearly missed
Annette Ledoux
10 Sep 2007, 16:54
She was a very influential writer and will be missed.
Leslie Mark, '83
12 Sep 2007, 11:00
The Alumnae House played a front and central role in my senior year, opening it's doors to seniors for weekly tea and respite from the outside frenzy. It was also host to an announced lecture by Madeleine L’Engle, which for some unaccountable reason drew fewer than a dozen students. I remember an intimate afternoon of conversation ranging from writing and inspiration to family and responsibility. She was remarkably generous, good-humored and warm and gave me one of my most cherished Smith memories.
Carrie Stewart '81
19 Sep 2007, 11:03
Madeleine L'Engle was one of my first encounters with a Smith Alumna through her books which I read as a child, the beginning of my Smith connections that drew me to the college. I feel as though I have lost one of those connections. My son is now reading A Wrinkle In Time and I'm going to re-read it with him.
Deborah Wess '86
19 Sep 2007, 14:33
When I was a tween, I absolutely adored those books about the Murrays and Calvin. It wasn't until I came to Smith that I learned she was a sister alum. Since then, she's always been on my short list of those alumnae whom I'm most proud to claim.
I know she wasn't that impressed with the H,arry Potter books, but as soon as i read the first one, I remember thinking, "Aha! Rowling's obviously been influenced by L'Engle: another gripping story about children fighting evil with the power of love".
I can't wait to re-read "A Wrinkle in Time" et al with my children, and make the Smith connection visible.
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