Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1977

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Cook, Joseph B.

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Kolinski, Charles J.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assemble the facts, synthesize the elements -- personal, literary, and cultural -- and evaluate the significance of these related factors as they pertain to the life and works of Bertita Carla Camille Leonarz Harding. The study followed the career of Bert ita Harding from birth to death, demonstrating how the American author distinguished herself in the literary field with her romantic historical biographies, autobiography, and travelogues, thus indicating how her works contribute to the world's literary history. The facts on which this writer has relied were obtained from a number of interviews in Mexico City, Mexico, Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana; from newspaper articles throughout the United States, Mexico, Cuba, England, and Germany; from the author's books as follows: Phantom Crown: The Story of Maximilian and Carlota of Mexico, Amazon Throne: The Story of the Braganzas of Brazil, Age Cannot Wither: The Story of Duse and D'Annunzio, Concerto: The Glowing Story of Clara Schumann, Farewell 'Toinette: The Story of Marie Antoinette, Golden Fleece: The Story of Franz Joseph and Elizabeth of Austria, Hungarian Rhapsody: The Portrait of an Actress, Imperial Twilight: The Story of Karl and Zita of Hungary, The Land Columbus Loved: The Dominican Republic, Lost Waltz: A Story of Exile, Magic Fire: Scenes Around Richard Wagner, Mosaic in the Fountain, Royal Purple: The Story of Alexander and Drag a of Serbia, and Southern Empire: Brazil; from memoirs and manuscripts generously supplied by Pedro Leonarz, nephew of Bertita Harding; from papers and letters in the Bobbs-Merrill Company files, Indiana University Lilly Library files, and Indiana State Library files; and through telephone conversations and letters from individuals who knew Bertita Harding personally and had recollections and reactions relating to pertinent factors. The writer categorizes Bertita Harding's fourteen books and harmonizes the relative subject matter. Further, she relates the author to the time in which she lived and her works to her culture. Since Bertita Harding's life was so related to the subject matter of her works, the writer reveals those elements in her writing that were pertinent in her life, which encompassed the years 1902 through 1971. The works of Bertita Harding are listed in the following categories: (1) biographies -- eleven chronicles of persons -- Phantom Crown, Amazon Throne, Age Cannot Wither, Concerto, Farewell 'Toinette, Golden Fleece, Hungarian Rhapsody, Imperial Twilight, Lost Waltz, Magic Fire, and Royal Purple; (2) autobiography -- Mosaic in the Fountain -- an analysis of nine years of the author's childhood; and (3) non-fiction -- two travelogues -- The Land Columbus Loved and Southern Empire: Brazil -- written in a style combining history, economics, politics, geography, guidebook, and interpretation. The study specifically supports the hypothesis that the life and works of Bertita Harding are highly integrated. The subject matter, style, and final product of these biographies, autobiography, and travelogues were a composite from the pen of a talented woman -- a unique socialite, world traveler, lecturer, historian, and linguist. She applied these elements as a catalyst to authorship and through a body of literary works reflected her predilection for nineteenth century subject matter and projected them into the twentieth century culture. In that context the writer concludes that there is more than ample evidence that Bertita Harding's books offer the potential of some very "rich" historical material to help history "live" for students.

Extent

145 p.

Comments

Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.|College of Education|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.

Identifier

FADT11690

Format

pdf

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