Wikipedia

Elisabeth Cobb

Elisabeth Cobb (1902–1959) was an American writer. Her father was Irvin S. Cobb, a well-known humorist. One of her best known works was her 1934 novel She Was A Lady. She died in New York in May 1959.

Portrait of Elisabeth Cobb and her father Irvin S. Cobb by Wayman Elbridge Adams

Early life and career (1902-1927) edit

Cobb attended the Skerton Finishing School.[1] Cobb worked in the editorial department of The Bookman[1] in the early 1920s. In 1924, a manuscript of Cobb's was published in Liberty.[2] Her first novel Falling Seeds was published in 1927[3] by Doubleday, Page and Company, when she was 25. The novel deals with the marriage of a Southern belle to a Yankee.

Writing career (1927-1950s) edit

Cobb's second novel Minstrels in Satin was published in 1929.[4] The novel is about a young divorced woman living in Italy who has three children. The mother would focus more on her social life than the wellbeing of her children, who learned to be self-sufficient.[4] Critics had generally favorable opinions on the novel.

Cobb's third novel She Was A Lady was serialized in McCall's magazine before it was published in 1934.[5] The novel would receive a film adaptation in 1934.

After her father's death in 1944, Cobb wrote a biography of her father titled My Wayward Parent, and part of it was serialized in the August 1945 issue of Cosmopolitan[6] before it was published in late 1945. It reviewed well, and was a sales success.[7]

In 1947–1948, a comedy play Cobb co-wrote with Herschel Williams was produced titled The Men We Marry. It was shown on Jan. 15, 1948 at the Mansfield Theatre.[8]

In the early 1950s, Cobb would travel lecturing on various topics.[9]

Personal life edit

Cobb first married singer Frank M. Chapman Jr on February 24, 1924, in Manhattan and divorced him on March 10, 1930, in Reno, Nevada.[10] There was one child from the marriage, Buff Cobb, born in 1926.

Her next marriage was to Alton A. Brody, who worked in real estate, on September 4, 1930.[11] She would divorce him on Feb. 16, 1938 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[12] Her final marriage was to Cameron Rogers, a writer, on November 21, 1938.[13]

Cobb converted to Catholicism in 1948.[14]

Cobb died aged 56 on May 25, 1959, at a New York hospital and was survived by her mother and children. Her grave is at Oak Grove Cemetery, beside her father.[15][16]

Works edit

  • Falling Seeds, 1927 (novel, published by Doubleday, Page and Company)
  • Minstrels in Satin, 1929 (novel, published by Doubleday Doran and Co.)
  • She Was A Lady, 1934 (novel, published by Bobbs-Merrill Company)
  • My Wayward Parent, 1945 (biography, published by Bobbs-Merrill Company)
  • The Men We Marry, 1947 (play) with Herschel Williams

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Irvin Cobb's Daughter Engaged to Frank Michler Chapman Jr". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 7, 1923. p. 7. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Untitiled Liberty magazine ad". The Press of Atlantic City. May 21, 1924. p. 9. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  3. ^ Robertson, Lloyd P. (March 27, 1927). "Elisabeth Cobb Chapman, Daughter of Irvin S. Cobb, writes "Falling Seeds", Distinguished First Novel". The News-Democrat. Paducah, Ky. p. 15.
  4. ^ a b Businger, R.A (April 28, 1929). "Many Constrasts, Exceptional Plot, Attractive Characters Feature 'Minstrels in Satin'". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 65.
  5. ^ "Colonial-Friday-Family Skeleton Is Theme of "She Was A Lady" by Elisabeth Cobb". Kennebec Journal. September 3, 1934. p. 10.
  6. ^ Neuman, Fred G. (July 29, 1945). "Random Book Talk". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Buff in the Movies". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, TN. March 2, 1947. p. 23.
  8. ^ Chapman, John (January 18, 1948). ""Men We Marry" Leaves New Producer at Post". New York Daily News. p. 52.
  9. ^ "Catholic Women's Council to Hear E. Cobb Speak at Second Open Meet". Newsday (Suffolk edition). May 11, 1951. p. 52.
  10. ^ "Reno divorce granted Irvan Cobb's daughter". The New York Times. March 11, 1930. p. 20.
  11. ^ "Irvin Cobb's Daughter Is Married Again". The New York Times. September 5, 1930. p. 20. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Writers' Daughter Wins Divorce". The Salt Lake Tribune. February 16, 1938. p. 10.
  13. ^ "Elisabeth Cobb wed". The Courier. Waterloo, Iowa. November 23, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Elisabeth Cobb First Catholic Forum Speaker". Elizabethtown Chronicle. Elizabethtown, PA. November 9, 1951. p. 12.
  15. ^ "Buff Cobb Buried Beside Her Father". The Paducah Sun. May 31, 1959. p. 15.
  16. ^ "Elisabeth Cobb, 56, author, scenarist". The New York Times. May 27, 1959. p. 35.
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