Belle K. Maniates (September 1861 – November 13, 1931) was an American novelist and short story writer. At least three silent films were made based on works by Maniates: Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1918), Mirandy Smiles (1918), and Penny of Top Hill Trail (1921).

Belle K. Maniates
A middle-aged white woman with dark eyes and grey hair; her hair is in a bun on top of her head; she is wearing a light-colored buttoned blouse with a tie closure at the neck.
Belle K. Maniates, from a 1915 publication
BornSeptember 1861
Marshall, Michigan, US
DiedNovember 13, 1931
Lansing, Michigan, US
OccupationWriter

Early life edit

Belle Kanaris Maniates was born in Marshall, Michigan, in 1861. Her father Nicholas Kanaris Maniates was a Greek immigrant and a doctor.[1][2] Her mother was Martha Arabelle Becker Maniates, of New York. Her father died in the same year that Belle Maniates was born.[3] She was sometimes described as the niece or grandniece of Greek politician Konstantinos Kanaris.[2]

Career edit

Maniates, who worked as a secretary and clerk in the Michigan state government in Lansing,[4][5] wrote "eight novels and hundreds of short stories".[1] Several of her short stories appeared in the Chicago Defender newspaper. Books by Maniates included David Dunne, a Romance of the Middle West (1912),[6][7] Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1915),[8] Mildew Manse (1916),[9][10] Amarilly in Love (1917),[11] Little Boy Bear (1917),[12] Our Next Door Neighbors (1917),[13] Penny of Top Hill Trail (1919),[14] and Sand Holler (1920).[15]

Three of her stories were adapted as silent films: Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley (1918) was directed by Marshall Neilan, adapted by Frances Marion and starred Mary Pickford;[4] Mirandy Smiles (1918) was directed by William C. deMille, adapted by Edith M. Kennedy, and starred Vivian Martin; and Penny of Top Hill Trail (1921) was directed by Arthur Berthelet, adapted by Finis Fox and Beatrice Van, and starred Bessie Love.[16][17] Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley and Mildew Alley were also adapted for the stage, in 1917 and 1922.[18][19]

Personal life edit

Maniates died in Lansing in 1931, aged 70 years.[20][21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Castanier, Bill (May 31, 2017). "Rediscovering Maniates". City Pulse. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  2. ^ a b Mueller, Joseph F. (January 1914). "A Greek Author's Sister". The Operative Miller. 19: 50.
  3. ^ Frangos, Steve (January 2–8, 2010). "Helenes in American during the Greek War of Independence: The Maniates Family" (PDF). The National Herald. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Miss Maniates' Story to be Filmed at Colonial Tuesday". Lansing State Journal. 1918-04-13. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Impeachment Message Read; Letter Signed Before it was Written". Detroit Free Press. 1900-05-23. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1912). David Dunne: A Romance of the Middle West. Rand McNally.
  7. ^ "Lansing Woman Has Her Novel Accepted". Lansing State Journal. 1911-07-11. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Maniates, Belle K. (1915). Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley.
  9. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1916). Mildew Manse. Little, Brown.
  10. ^ "'Mildew Manse' Will Be Played". Lansing State Journal. 1918-07-31. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1917). Amarilly in Love. Little, Brown.
  12. ^ Schwartz, Elza (1917-09-22). "Books, Magazines, and Their Writers". Lansing State Journal. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1917). Our Next-door Neighbors. Little Brown.
  14. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1919). Penny of Top Hill Trail. Reilly & Lee Company.
  15. ^ Maniates, Belle Kanaris (1920). Sand Holler. Reilly & Lee.
  16. ^ "Federated Announces Bessie Love Picture". The Moving Picture World: 79. May 7, 1921.
  17. ^ Sewell, C. S. (May 7, 1921). "Penny of Top Hill Trail (review)". The Motion Picture World: 89.
  18. ^ "Miss Maniates to See Book Stage Production". Lansing State Journal. 1917-05-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Local Author, in West, Interviewed". Lansing State Journal. 1922-03-16. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Funeral Rites Held for Belle Maniates". Lansing State Journal. 1931-11-16. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Miss Belle K. Maniates, Author of Several Books, Here 30 Years, Dies". Lansing State Journal. 1931-11-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-08-21 – via Newspapers.com.

External links edit

Stories by Maniates edit

  • Belle K. Maniates, "Angela's Romance", The Pacific Monthly 15(June 1905): 371-376. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "A Vegetarian Adventure" The New England Magazine 35(September 1906): 60-65. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "Polly's Masquerade" Locomotive Engineers Journal 41(June 1907): 457-460. A short story by Maniates.
  • Belle K. Maniates, "An Unsolved Problem" The Black Cat 13(March 1908): 43-52. A short story by Maniates.