Madeleine L’Engle Biographical Sketch / Page 4 of 4

By then, Madeleine and Hugh had moved with their three children–Josephine, Maria, and Bion–back to New York City, to an apartment on Manhattan’s far upper west side, though they kept Crosswicks as a weekend and summer retreat. Hugh had returned to theatre life, and Madeleine carved herself a niche as volunteer librarian in the Diocesan House of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

There, she wrote some 25 more books, and from there she met with fans and school groups, acted as confessor and spiritual advisor to many, hosted work sessions with her editor, and coordinated occasional community outreach efforts, like writing workshops for urban teens, free at the Cathedral and taught by herself and author friends. Nearly every day she was in town, Madeleine arrived at her desk in the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint John the Divine library at 10 am, her Irish setters by her side; at noon daily, she joined others in the chapel to celebrate the Eucharist. In 2012, on what would have been Madeleine’s 94th birthday, the Cathedral’s Diocesan House was dedicated a “literary landmark” in her honor.

As the children grew, Hugh’s own career took an unexpected turn: in 1970, he was cast in the first episode of All My Children as Dr. Charles Tyler, a role he would play for the next 13 years. As a soap opera star, Hugh became more recognizable than his wife and was often approached by adoring fans for autographs when they were out and about, much to Madeleine’s amusement.

In later years, Madeleine was on the road as much as she was home in Crosswicks or her New York City apartment. She seized nearly every speaking request that came her way, honing her performance skills on literary festivals, children’s book tour circuits, schools and colleges, Christian conferences, retreats (especially for women), and churches. She beguiled audiences with props and dramatic readings, and in churches preached sermons that were “always captivating and original and yet informed by a powerful understanding of classic religion,” said her friend, the author Sidney Offit. In the second half of her life, she cultivated an enormous fan base while racking up 17 honorary doctorates, a National Book Award, and the National Humanities Medal, among many other recognitions.

After Hugh died in 1986, Madeleine’s life remained full of friends, family, and literary events. She kept to her busy speaking and writing schedule until well beyond her 80th birthday. She died on September 8, 2007 in Litchfield, Connecticut.