When I was your age

by Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (February 27, 1850 – January 14, 1943) was an American writer. She wrote more than 90 books including biographies, poetry, and several for children. One well-known children's poem is her literary nonsense verse "Eletelephony".

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (27 February, 1850 – 14 January, 1943) was an American writer. She often published as Laura E. Richards & wrote more than 90 books including biographies, poetry, and several for children.

Her father was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, an abolitionist and the founder of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. She was named after his famous deaf-blind pupil Laura Bridgman. Her mother Julia Ward Howe wrote the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".

Reviews

[Avis Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I Was Your Age is a rather unusual book. It's filled with what I call 'Fine Lady Writing.' This type of prose is normally sentimental and cloying, and finding a specimen of its kind without these defects is almost a miracle. But Laura Richards' book manages to achieve this rare distinction.

Richards' memoir describes an unusual family. Her father, Samuel Howe, was inspired by Lord Byron and joined the Greek forces trying to throw off the Turkish yoke. Later, Samuel founded the first American School for the Blind. His daughter portrays him as a man of tremendous vigor and will, and she gives an anecdote to illustrate this. When a fire was discovered in the School for the Blind, Howe slid down a long, precipitous slope, ran over to the school, shinnied up a drainpipe, found an axe and was chopping out the burning timbers before almost anyone else could react. Howe also founded a school for the feeble-minded, and among his other interests were abolition and raising money for the freedom of Poland. (The latter landed him briefly in a Berlin prison).

Yet despite this impressive resume, Howe is nowhere near as well-known today as his wife. He is still Mr. Julia Ward Howe to many, his wife being the author of the poem, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Though having parents whom most might find overbearing, this memoir paints a picture of a blissful childhood. Richards mentions that she and her siblings grew up largely without friends, but never felt they needed them because their childhood was so happy. Later in life, Richards became a writer and a poet, as did most of her siblings.

Available at Open Library:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17990...

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never come across so charming a childhood memoir before. Laura Richards had a golden childhood, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her reminiscences. I look forward to reading more of her work, and I wouldn't mind learning more about her father as well, who started an institution for the blind and seemed to have notable people in and out of the house constantly.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir. Wonderful stories as the author reminisced about her childhood. She tells stories of her siblings, mother, father, friends, teachers and guests to their home. Her love and appreciation for her family shines through. I loved all the creativity and imagination that blossomed as the children wrote poetry, put on puppet shows, told stories and ran around outside enjoying nature.