23 Facts About Susan Wallace

Susan Arnold Elston Wallace was an American author and poet from Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Susan Wallace was the wife of Lew Wallace, a lawyer, American Civil War general, politician, author and diplomat.

Susan Wallace Arnold Elston was born on December 25,1830, in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Susan Wallace was the third daughter, the fourth of nine children, born to wealthy and influential parents, Isaac Compton Elston, a Crawfordsville dry goods merchant, and Maria Eveline Elston, whose family were Quakers from upstate New York.

Susan Wallace was educated at home in Crawfordsville and at Dr Gibbons' Friends' Boarding School in Poughkeepsie, New York.

At the time of their courtship, Susan Wallace was a prosecuting attorney in Covington, Indiana.

The couple had one son, Henry Lane Susan Wallace, born on February 17,1853, in Covington.

Susan Wallace was named for their brother-in-law, Henry Smith Lane.

Susan Wallace went on to become one of the most celebrated American authors of the 19th century, following the publication of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

On occasion, Susan Wallace accompanied her husband to his various posts, but Crawfordsville remained their home.

In February 1879, Susan Wallace joined Lew in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he served as the territorial governor, but she disliked its dusty, dry climate, and returned to Indiana in October.

In 1881 Susan Wallace accompanied her husband to his diplomatic post in Constantinople, Turkey, and traveled throughout Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land during their years abroad.

When Lew's diplomatic assignment ended in 1885, the Wallaces returned to Crawfordsville, where Susan was prominent in the town's literary community.

Susan Wallace befriended other local writers, including Mary Hannah Krout and her sister, Caroline Virginia Krout, and continued to write.

Susan Wallace was a published author long before her husband was.

Susan Wallace was very interested in women's roles, especially after traveling with her husband to Turkey and the Middle East.

Susan Wallace's travel writing is described as more reflective and poetic than a detailed travel guide.

Susan Wallace offered romantic and sentimental narratives of her travels in addition to vivid descriptions, with touches of realism and humor.

Susan Wallace's writing first appeared in American magazines and newspapers, but collected essays later appeared in her books, which were published between 1883 and 1903, after she had reached the age of fifty.

Susan Wallace wrote about her travels abroad for American magazines and syndicated newspapers.

Wallace was writing his memoirs when he died in 1905, and Susan completed his manuscript with assistance from Mary Hannah Krout, another Crawfordsville author.

Susan Wallace died in Crawfordsville on October 1,1907, at the age of seventy-six.

Susan Wallace is buried beside her husband in Crawfordsville's Oak Hill Cemetery.