Myrtle Reed

Myrtle Reed – Life, Work, and Memorable Quotes

Learn about the life, literary achievements, and memorable wisdom of Myrtle Reed (1874–1911), the American novelist, poet, journalist, and philanthropist whose works enchanted readers in the early 20th century.

Introduction

Myrtle Reed (September 27, 1874 – August 17, 1911) was a prolific American novelist, poet, journalist, and cookbook author. Olive Green.

Though her life was tragically short, Reed’s popularity in her own era was considerable, and many of her works remain in the public domain today, accessible to new readers.

Early Life and Family

Myrtle Reed was born in Norwood Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) on September 27, 1874. Hiram von Reed, a preacher and magazine founder/editor, and Elizabeth Armstrong Reed, a scholar and writer with interests in comparative religion and eastern literature.

From an early age, she was encouraged (by her parents) in reading and writing.

Youth, Education, and Early Writing

Myrtle attended West Division High School in Chicago, where she edited the school newspaper, The Voice.

Her very first published pieces appeared when she was about ten years old in The Acorn, a magazine for children. Harper’s Bazaar, Munsey’s, Cosmopolitan, and others.

She did not attend college — her writing and literary work became her path.

Literary Career and Works

Myrtle Reed’s output spanned fiction, poetry, essays, and domestic writing (cookbooks). Many of her works were bestsellers in her time.

Fiction & Poetry

Some of her more notable novels and literary works include:

• Love Letters of a Musician (1899) — her first novel.

• Later Love Letters of a Musician (1900)

• The Spinster Book (1901) — essays on love and courtship.

• Lavender and Old Lace (1902) — one of her most famous romances, often associated with its distinctive lavender-themed cover.

• The Shadow of Victory (1903)

• The Book of Clever Beasts (1904) — a work of imaginative or whimsical writing.

• The Master’s Violin (1904)

• At the Sign of the Jack o’ Lantern (1905)

• A Spinner in the Sun (1906)

• Love Affairs of Literary Men (1907) — a non-fiction/biographical collection.

• Flower of the Dusk (1908)

• Old Rose and Silver (1909)

• Master of the Vineyard (1910)

• Sonnets to a Lover (1910)

• A Weaver of Dreams (1911) — her last work published during her lifetime (or immediately posthumous).

• Threads of Gray and Gold is another title associated with her literary legacy (posthumously published).

Her fiction often explores romance, emotional introspection, and the complexities of relationships, sometimes interrupted by interludes of reflection or philosophy.

Cookbooks & Domestic Writing

Under the pen name Olive Green, Reed published several cookbooks and culinary guides, blending recipes with domestic essays and sketches. Some titles include:

• What to Have for Breakfast (1905)

• Everyday Luncheons (1906)

• One Thousand Simple Soups (1907)

• How to Cook Fish (1908)

• How to Cook Meat and Poultry (1908)

• One Thousand Salads (1909)

• Everyday Desserts (1911, posthumous)

• Myrtle Reed Cookbook (1916, posthumous)

She also used another pseudonym, Katherine LaFarge Norton, for some domestic articles.

Reception & Influence

In her time, Reed enjoyed significant popularity. Her romance novels resonated with readers seeking sentimental, morally upright stories. Lavender and Old Lace was especially successful and was adapted in various forms (stage, etc.). The Book of Clever Beasts.

However, some later critics regarded her works as formulaic, pointing out recurring romantic tropes, sentimental interludes, and a sometimes predictable structure.

Despite that, her books offered solace, beauty, and domestic comfort to many of her contemporaneous readers.

Personal Life & Tragedy

In 1906, after nearly fifteen years of courtship, Myrtle Reed married James Sydney McCullough, a Canadian editor whom she had corresponded with during her high school years.

Over time, Reed struggled with insomnia and became reliant on sedatives. August 17, 1911, she died in Chicago from an overdose of sleeping powder (Veronal) in her flat called “Paradise Flat” at 5120 Kenmore Avenue. Her death was ruled a suicide.

She left a letter to her maid, Annie Larsen, which was published the next day.

Her death was mourned by fans and contemporaries, and has contributed to a tragic aura around her memory.

Style, Themes & Legacy

Literary Style & Themes

Myrtle Reed’s writing is often characterized by:

• Sentimental romanticism. Her novels tend to emphasize love, fate, forgiveness, and emotional connection.

• Philosophical interludes. Many novels interrupt narrative with reflections on love, destiny, and morality.

• Domestic and home imagery. Her imagery frequently centers on home, gardens, domestic spaces, and gentle natural settings.

• Idealism vs. reality. Some of her later works exhibit tension between romantic ideals and lived realities, perhaps reflecting her own personal struggles.

One critic described A Weaver of Dreams (her last novel) as containing a poignant inversion of Reed’s own circumstances: in it, one protagonist is left alone at the end, resolving to face the future with dignity—an ironic echo of Reed’s personal fate.

Legacy

• Many of her works are now in the public domain, allowing them to be freely read or recorded (for example, by LibriVox).

• Her cookbooks remain of interest to those exploring historical American home cooking.

• Though not universally acclaimed by modern critics, Reed’s popularity in her time and her ability to connect with a broad reading public mark her as an important figure in early 20th-century American women's literature.

• For readers interested in sentimental romance, vintage women’s fiction, or domestic literary history, Reed’s books continue to offer insight into the hopes, constraints, and emotional life of women in her era.

Selected Quotes by Myrtle Reed

Here are a few quotations attributed to Myrtle Reed (or from her works), reflecting her style and sentiment:

“The river itself portrays humanity precisely, with its tortuous windings, its accumulation of driftwood, its unsuspected depths, and its crystalline shallows...” — Old Rose and Silver

“The heart’s seasons seldom coincide with the calendar. Who among us has not been made desolate beyond all words upon some golden day…” — Old Rose and Silver

“A man says: ‘I love you — will you marry me?’ What he really means is: ‘Will you come to look after my house … cook for me when necessary …’” — from A Weaver of Dreams

Also, a widely circulated epigram (from Threads of Gray and Gold):

“The only way to test a man is to marry him. If you live, it’s a mushroom. If you die, it’s a toadstool.”

These lines illustrate her blend of romantic idealism, domestic observation, and sometimes wry insight.

Lessons from Myrtle Reed

From her life and writing, one can draw a number of reflections and lessons:

1. Writing as vocation from youth. Reed began writing early and followed that path instead of a conventional academic or professional trajectory.

2. Popular appeal over critical acclaim. She aimed to speak to readers’ hearts; literary reputation, in her case, was secondary to connecting emotionally.

3. Tension of idealism and lived life. Reed’s personal struggles suggest that romantic idealism, when rigidly held, can be a source of pain.

4. Voice in multiple genres. Her ability to write novels, essays, poetry, and cookbooks shows how a writer can transgress genre boundaries.

5. Fragility behind creativity. Her life reminds us that even successful creators may battle inner demons, mental health, and emotional challenges.

Conclusion

Myrtle Reed was a woman of gifts, ambition, and contradictions. Her novels, essays, poetry, and domestic writing opened doors into romantic imagination and heartfelt reflection for thousands of readers in her time. Though her life ended in tragedy, her books remain as windows into sentimental culture, early 20th-century women’s reading habits, and the emotional yearnings of her era.