'A Cathedral Courtship' was first published in 1893, appearing in a volume with 'Penelope's English Experiences.' In course of time, the latter story, finding unexpected favour in the public eyes, left its modest companion, and was promoted to a separate existence, with pictures and covers of its own. Then something rather curious occurred, one of those trifles which serve to make a publisher's life an exciting, if not a happy, one.

Kate Douglas Wiggin was born in Philadelphia on September 28, 1856. As an adult she devoted her life to the welfare of children many of whom were badly treated and thought of as more a source of cheap expendable labour than minds to be nourished and expanded. By 1878 she had started what was then the first free kindergarten in San Francisco. Of course as well as being active in social reform and education she is a very well known authoress. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm being her most credited creation. Here we publish a less well known but equally admired book that captures life from a youthful perspective. In the spring of 1923 Kate travelled to England as a New York delegate to the Dickens Fellowship. There she became ill with bronchial pneumonia and died, at the age of 66. Her ashes were taken home to Maine and scattered over the Saco River. Here we publish her delightful volume 'A Cathedral Courtship'.

Kate Douglas Wiggin was born in Philadelphia on September 28, 1856. As an adult she devoted her life to the welfare of children many of whom were badly treated and thought of as more a source of cheap expendable labour than minds to be nourished and expanded. By 1878 she had started what was then the first free kindergarten in San Francisco. Of course as well as being active in social reform and education she is a very well known authoress. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm being her most credited creation. Here we publish a less well known but equally admired book that captures life from a youthful perspective. In the spring of 1923 Kate travelled to England as a New York delegate to the Dickens Fellowship. There she became ill with bronchial pneumonia and died, at the age of 66. Her ashes were taken home to Maine and scattered over the Saco River.

A Cathedral Courtship by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin is a rare manuscript, the original residing in some of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, typed out and formatted to perfection, allowing new generations to enjoy the work. Publishers of the Valley's mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life.