Scanlan, Nelle (1882–1968)

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Scanlan, Nelle (1882–1968)

New Zealand journalist, novelist, and radio commentator. Name variations: Ellen Margaret Scanlan. Born Jan 15, 1882, in Picton, New Zealand; died Oct 5, 1968, in Wellington; dau. of Michael Scanlan (gold prospector and police officer) and Ellen (Kiely) Scanlan.

Became reporter and freelance journalist during WWI; published syndicated articles as Boudoir Mirrors of Washington (1923); was based in England until 1950s and reported on lives of wealthy and famous; wrote 15 popular novels over period of 20 years, including "Pencarrow" tetraology, Pencarrow (1932), Tides of Youth (1933), Winds of Heaven (1934), and Kelly Pencarrow (1939), which established her as most popular New Zealand novelist of her generation; became well-known radio speaker with series of 200 broadcasts, "Shoes and Ships and Sealing-wax" (1940s).

See also autobiography, Road to Pencarrow (1963); and Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 4).