An Island in a Green Sea by Mabel Esther Allan

She first traveled abroad in 1948, beginning a practice that contributed heavily to her writing by providing new settings and experiences to use in her novels. Miss Allan also sold about 330 short stories between 19. The only exception to her conformity appeared in her school stories, which embraced progressive educational tenets like coeducation, student self-discipline, and schoolchildren's participation in running their schools. She wrote adventures, mysteries, and romances for older girls, all following conventional attitudes and subject matters. Over the subsequent twenty-five years, Miss Allan produced an abundant number of novels. Deciding to commit herself to writing for children, she wrote her second published novel, The Adventurous Summer, in the autumn of 1945. It was published in 1948 as The Glen Castle Mystery.

Miss Allan submitted Grim Glen Castle to another publisher in the spring of 1945. During World War II, Miss Allan served as a farm worker in the Women's Land Army, a teacher in a preparatory school, and a nursery warden for the children of factory workers. She sold her first book for publication, Grim Glen Castle, in 1939, but it was not published because of the outbreak of war. She failed to publish any adult pieces, but found unexpected success at selling short stories for children. After completing her education in 1932, Miss Allan taught folk dancing classes for the English Folk Dance and Song Society while submitting stories and novels for publication. From the age of eight, she intended to become an author. Educated at disappointing dame schools, Miss Allan took no interest in her lessons but enjoyed only reading in the library and composing short stories and novels.

She was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, on February 11, 1915, to James Pemberton Allan, a merchant, and his wife, Priscilla Hagon Allan.

Mabel Esther Allan was a British author of about 170 children's books.

An Island in a Green Sea by Mabel Esther Allan