Among her other beloved titles are her books about the Melendy family, including The Saturdays, published in 1941. Throughout her life, she won many awards, including the 1939 John Newbery Medal for Thimble Summer and a 1958 Newbery Honor for Gone-Away Lake. After creating her first book in 1935, she developed a taste, and quickly demonstrated a talent, for writing. Illustration was Enright’s original career choice and she studied art in Greenwich, Connecticut Paris, France and New York City. Her mother was a magazine illustrator, while her father was a political cartoonist.

The Saturdays is the first installment of Enright’s Melendy Quartet, an engaging and warm series about the close-knit Melendy family and their surprising adventures.Įlizabeth Enright (1907-1968) was born in Oak Park, Illinois, but spent most of her life in or near New York City. Written more than half a century ago, The Saturdays unfolds with all the ripe details of a specific place and period but remains, just the same, a winning, timeless tale. is in operation and every Saturday is definitely one to remember. If they pool their resources and take turns spending the whole amount, they can each have at least one memorable Saturday afternoon of their own. Tired of wasting Saturdays doing nothing but wishing for larger allowances, the four Melendys jump at Randy’s idea to start the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club (I.S.A.A.C.). There’s thirteen-year-old Mona, who has decided to become an actress twelve-year-old mischievous Rush ten-and-a-half-year-old Randy, who loves to dance and paint and thoughtful Oliver, who is just six. Meet the Melendys! The four Melendy children live with their father and Cuffy, their beloved housekeeper, in a worn but comfortable brownstone in New York City.

The saturdays enright