Florence Carpenter Dieudonné (September 25, 1850 – April 17, 1927) was an early

speculative fiction Speculative fiction is an umbrella term, umbrella genre of fiction that encompasses all the subgenres that depart from Realism (arts), realism, or strictly imitating everyday reality, instead presenting fantastical, supernatural, futuristic, or ...

writer, active in America in the late 1800s.

Biography

Florence Lucinda Carpenter was born in 1850 in Munnsville, New York, and raised in

Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh () is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago and had a population of 66,816 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List o ...

. Her first writings were poems published in a local newspaper and in

Peterson's Magazine ''Peterson's Magazine'' (1842–1898) was an American magazine focused on women. It was published monthly and based in Philadelphia. In 1842, Charles Jacobs Peterson and George Rex Graham, partners in the ''Saturday Evening Post'', agreed ...

. After her marriage to a man surnamed Dieudonné, she traveled in Europe; letters that she sent back for publication in various newspapers enhanced her a reputation as writer. Dieudonné's first book was the long poem entitled ''A Pre-Historic Romanza'' (1882). She also wrote several

cantatas A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning ...

with music by J. B. Carpenter. Dieudonné is best known for two novels of

: ''Rondah, or Thirty-Three Years in a Star'' (1887) and ''Xartella'' (1891). ''Rondah'' in particular is notable for prefiguring 20th century

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

in its descriptions of another planet, and it was well ahead of its time in its sympathetic portrayal of

extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial life, or alien life (colloquially, aliens), is life that originates from another world rather than on Earth. No extraterrestrial life has yet been scientifically conclusively detected. Such life might range from simple forms ...

. ''Rondah'' is about four people who are ported to a new planet still in the process of formation that is inhabited by bird people. It was inspired in part by theories about a possible disintegrated planet between Mars and Jupiter. ''Xartella'' is more in line with late Victorian supernatural fantasy and exotic-location adventure novels by such writers as

H. Rider Haggard Sir Henry Rider Haggard (; 22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925) was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform t ...

. Set in Egypt, it is centered on a triangle of characters: an immortal Egyptian of that name who is able to reanimate mummies, an old man, and the woman they both love, Artossa. The story is narrated by a later explorer who encounters the old man and becomes involved in events when he accidentally reanimates Xartella's wife Aphiah. Dieudonné lived in Washington, D.C., where she was president of the Parzelia Circle, a literary club. She died in 1927 in California.

Works

*''A Pre-Historic Romanza'' (Minneapolis, Minn.: The Falls Printing Co., 1882) *''Rondah, or Thirty-Three Years in a Star'' (Philadelphia, Penna.: T. B. Peterson and Brothers, 1887) *''Xartella'' (Washington, D.C.: Press of Gedney and Roberts, 1891)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dieudonne, Florence Lucinda Carpenter 1850 births 1927 deaths American fantasy writers 20th-century American novelists American science fiction writers American women science fiction and fantasy writers 19th-century American writers 19th-century American women writers 20th-century American women writers