Belle K. Maniates (September 1861 – November 13, 1931) was an American novelist and short story writer. At least three silent films were made based on works by Maniates: Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1918), Mirandy Smiles (1918), and Penny of Top Hill Trail (1921).

Belle K. Maniates
A middle-aged white woman with dark eyes and grey hair; her hair is in a bun on top of her head; she is wearing a light-colored buttoned blouse with a tie closure at the neck.
Belle K. Maniates, from a 1915 publication
BornSeptember 1861
Marshall, Michigan, US
DiedNovember 13, 1931
Lansing, Michigan, US
OccupationWriter

Early life

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Belle Kanaris Maniates was born in Marshall, Michigan, in 1861. Her father Nicholas Kanaris Maniates was a Greek immigrant and a doctor.[1][2] Her mother was Martha Arabelle Becker Maniates, of New York. Her father died in the same year that Belle Maniates was born.[3] She was sometimes described as the niece or grandniece of Greek politician Konstantinos Kanaris.[2]

Career

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Maniates, who worked as a secretary and clerk in the Michigan state government in Lansing,[4][5] wrote "eight novels and hundreds of short stories".[1] Several of her short stories appeared in the Chicago Defender newspaper. Books by Maniates included David Dunne, a Romance of the Middle West (1912),[6][7] Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1915),[8] Mildew Manse (1916),[9][10] Amarilly in Love (1917),[11] Little Boy Bear (1917),[12] Our Next Door Neighbors (1917),[13] Penny of Top Hill Trail (1919),[14] and Sand Holler (1920).[15]

Three of her stories were adapted as silent films: Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1918) was directed by Marshall Neilan, adapted by Frances Marion and starred Mary Pickford;[4] Mirandy Smiles (1918) was directed by William C. deMille, adapted by Edith M. Kennedy, and starred Vivian Martin; and Penny of Top Hill Trail (1921) was directed by Arthur Berthelet, adapted by Finis Fox and Beatrice Van, and starred Bessie Love.[16][17] Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley and Mildew Alley were also adapted for the stage, in 1917 and 1922.[18][19]

Personal life

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Maniates died in Lansing in 1931, aged 70 years.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Castanier, Bill (May 31, 2017). "Rediscovering Maniates". City Pulse. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  2. ^ a b Mueller, Joseph F. (January 1914). "A Greek Author's Sister". The Operative Miller. 19: 50.
  3. ^ Frangos, Steve (January 2–8, 2010). "Helenes in American during the Greek War of Independence: The Maniates Family" (PDF). The National Herald. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Miss Maniates' Story to be Filmed at Colonial Tuesday". Lansing State Journal. 1918-04-13. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Impeachment Message Read; Letter Signed Before it was Written". Detroit Free Press. 1900-05-23. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1912). David Dunne: A Romance of the Middle West. Rand McNally.
  7. ^ "Lansing Woman Has Her Novel Accepted". Lansing State Journal. 1911-07-11. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Maniates, Belle K. (1915). Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley.
  9. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1916). Mildew Manse. Little, Brown.
  10. ^ "'Mildew Manse' Will Be Played". Lansing State Journal. 1918-07-31. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1917). Amarilly in Love. Little, Brown.
  12. ^ Schwartz, Elza (1917-09-22). "Books, Magazines, and Their Writers". Lansing State Journal. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1917). Our Next-door Neighbors. Little Brown.
  14. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1919). Penny of Top Hill Trail. Reilly & Lee Company.
  15. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1920). Sand Holler. Reilly & Lee.
  16. ^ "Federated Announces Bessie Love Picture". The Moving Picture World: 79. May 7, 1921.
  17. ^ Sewell, C. S. (May 7, 1921). "Penny of Top Hill Trail (review)". The Motion Picture World: 89.
  18. ^ "Miss Maniates to See Book Stage Production". Lansing State Journal. 1917-05-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Local Author, in West, Interviewed". Lansing State Journal. 1922-03-16. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Funeral Rites Held for Belle Maniates". Lansing State Journal. 1931-11-16. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Miss Belle K. Maniates, Author of Several Books, Here 30 Years, Dies". Lansing State Journal. 1931-11-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
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Stories by Maniates

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  • Belle K. Maniates, "Angela's Romance", The Pacific Monthly 15(June 1905): 371-376. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "A Vegetarian Adventure" The New England Magazine 35(September 1906): 60-65. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "Polly's Masquerade" Locomotive Engineers Journal 41(June 1907): 457-460. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "An Unsolved Problem" The Black Cat 13(March 1908): 43-52. A short story by Maniates.