Marie L. Shedlock (1854–1935)

Marie L. Shedlock was born in Boulogne, France of English parents. Her father was an engineer helping to build a railroad. Her first job at age 21 was as a schoolteacher in England. At 36, she began her career as a storyteller, making her debut performance in London, and ten years later stopped teaching in order to work full-time as a professional storyteller. She spoke fluent French as well as English and could tell stories in both languages. She had two extended and well-received tours in the USA, the first around 1900 that lasted seven years. After this first tour, she returned to London, later writing two books, including The Art of the Story-Teller. Her second USA tour began in 1915 and ran for five years.