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The Lighted Heart
The memoir follows the lives of a husband and wife who buy a small farm in New England.
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
About the author
Elizabeth Yates
104 books77 followersElizabeth Yates, author of over forty books for children, was born in New York State on December 6th, 1905. Determined to be an author, she moved to New York City to launch her career. She worked a variety of jobs including reviewing book, writing short stories, and doing research. She moved to England with her husband and wrote her first book, High Holiday, based on her travels in Switzerland with her three children. The family returned to the U.S. in 1939 and settled in New Hampshire. Yates won the Newbery Award in 1951 for her book, Amos Fortune, Free Man, a biography of an African prince who is enslaved and taken to America.
Yates conducted writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. She also served as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Yates was widowed in 1963. Elizabeth Yates died Sunday at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire on July 29, 2001 at the age of 95.
Elizabeth Yates' books have been described as "the result of extensive research, a strong underlying belief in God, and a vivid imagination."
Yates conducted writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. She also served as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Yates was widowed in 1963. Elizabeth Yates died Sunday at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire on July 29, 2001 at the age of 95.
Elizabeth Yates' books have been described as "the result of extensive research, a strong underlying belief in God, and a vivid imagination."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2025
The Lighted Heart, written by Elizabeth Yates (McGreal), is a memoir of the days in her life when her husband, Bill, lost his eyesight and they both found a new and exciting life at a farm in the mountains of New England.
I sought out this book after a marvelous review by my friend, Terris. Much to my surprise, I found Yates was a well-known author of children’s books and a winner of the Newbery award. I’m sure her ability to paint visual pictures with words was one of her strengths in her writing, and I suspect much of that came from the necessity of painting them for her husband as his eyesight waned and then failed.
That night I made jelly, adding the jars of grape to the other jars on our cellar shelves. In the morning, when the sun came in through the small high cellar windows, it put a band of light along the shelves. The jars, with their different colored contents, shone–delicate pink of crabapple, rich red of blackberry, mellow gold of peach, dark blue of blueberry, wine purple of grape.
“They’re much more than color and taste,” I said to Bill. “They’re all the warmth and fun of summer, and the memory of long days lapped in light.”
Elizabeth and Bill took on the farm in New Hampshire in 1939 and the book, I believe, covers about the next fifteen years. It was published in 1960 and I found that Bill had died in 1963. That was sad, but how remarkable that the quality of his life never failed and that he added so much to the lives of so many others. Elizabeth died in 2001, at the age of 95. It was hard for me to imagine that she had survived so many years without him considering the amazingly close life they had shared.
Upon reading an observation she made after attending the marriage of a young friend, I could not help thinking that if anyone understood both the impact and sacredness of the wedding vow, it was Elizabeth Yates.
It looks so easy, this journey with another through life, for everything has been doubled–the dreams as well as the zest–and the direction seems sure and straight. But what if something happens to change the direction? What if “worse” looms larger than “better,” “sickness”becomes more than “health,” “poorer” takes over “richer”? From now on two are joined in a relationship with needs that deepen and grow. With it there is the promise made on a golden occasion and bound by a golden circle.
I could go on and on about this marvelous little book. I felt, when I had completed it, as if I had been extended a privilege in having been allowed to read it. There was a residual glow, as if I had spent time with a friend. It was a reminder that we do not choose our fate but we do choose how we deal with it; that a life that is harder and simpler is sometimes also better; and that what we get out of life is sometimes determined by what we put into it.
In my scouring for information on this wonderful woman, it has come to my attention that she wrote a three-volume autobiography later in her life. I am on a search for it.
I sought out this book after a marvelous review by my friend, Terris. Much to my surprise, I found Yates was a well-known author of children’s books and a winner of the Newbery award. I’m sure her ability to paint visual pictures with words was one of her strengths in her writing, and I suspect much of that came from the necessity of painting them for her husband as his eyesight waned and then failed.
That night I made jelly, adding the jars of grape to the other jars on our cellar shelves. In the morning, when the sun came in through the small high cellar windows, it put a band of light along the shelves. The jars, with their different colored contents, shone–delicate pink of crabapple, rich red of blackberry, mellow gold of peach, dark blue of blueberry, wine purple of grape.
“They’re much more than color and taste,” I said to Bill. “They’re all the warmth and fun of summer, and the memory of long days lapped in light.”
Elizabeth and Bill took on the farm in New Hampshire in 1939 and the book, I believe, covers about the next fifteen years. It was published in 1960 and I found that Bill had died in 1963. That was sad, but how remarkable that the quality of his life never failed and that he added so much to the lives of so many others. Elizabeth died in 2001, at the age of 95. It was hard for me to imagine that she had survived so many years without him considering the amazingly close life they had shared.
Upon reading an observation she made after attending the marriage of a young friend, I could not help thinking that if anyone understood both the impact and sacredness of the wedding vow, it was Elizabeth Yates.
It looks so easy, this journey with another through life, for everything has been doubled–the dreams as well as the zest–and the direction seems sure and straight. But what if something happens to change the direction? What if “worse” looms larger than “better,” “sickness”becomes more than “health,” “poorer” takes over “richer”? From now on two are joined in a relationship with needs that deepen and grow. With it there is the promise made on a golden occasion and bound by a golden circle.
I could go on and on about this marvelous little book. I felt, when I had completed it, as if I had been extended a privilege in having been allowed to read it. There was a residual glow, as if I had spent time with a friend. It was a reminder that we do not choose our fate but we do choose how we deal with it; that a life that is harder and simpler is sometimes also better; and that what we get out of life is sometimes determined by what we put into it.
In my scouring for information on this wonderful woman, it has come to my attention that she wrote a three-volume autobiography later in her life. I am on a search for it.
January 20, 2025
This was such a peaceful book to read. It was filled with difficult situations handled with good attitudes and hard work. Yates and her husband bought an old house on 67 acres in rural New Hampshire in 1939. He lost his sight but never let it slow him down. She became a well- known children's author. They had no children but so many close friends and neighbors. Her descriptions of the nature and forests surrounding them was so eloquent it almost made snow and below freezing temperatures sound inviting. (Almost)
Thanks to Sara for making this sound so irresistible in her review. I'm happy to recommend this out of print book to anyone who can find a copy. I was lucky to have a library able to get it through interlibrary loan.
Thanks to Sara for making this sound so irresistible in her review. I'm happy to recommend this out of print book to anyone who can find a copy. I was lucky to have a library able to get it through interlibrary loan.
November 25, 2024
This is the most amazing, sweet, inspirational, and calming book!
It is the story of the author and her husband Bill's life together (set in the late 1930s into the early 1940s) as Bill begins to go blind. And as you read, you quickly find out that Bill does go completely blind. But that is only the beginning of this beautiful story.
Yates is a master storyteller as she describes their tranquil country life, as well as the beautiful scenery, the passing seasons, their beloved pets, and their caring and considerate ways with each other. She is just an outstanding writer and evokes feelings of peacefulness and quietude.
I highly recommend this one. It may be the best book I've read this year!
It is the story of the author and her husband Bill's life together (set in the late 1930s into the early 1940s) as Bill begins to go blind. And as you read, you quickly find out that Bill does go completely blind. But that is only the beginning of this beautiful story.
Yates is a master storyteller as she describes their tranquil country life, as well as the beautiful scenery, the passing seasons, their beloved pets, and their caring and considerate ways with each other. She is just an outstanding writer and evokes feelings of peacefulness and quietude.
I highly recommend this one. It may be the best book I've read this year!
November 25, 2024
"Against the New England setting of an old farmhouse, two heroic & loving spirits transcend the shock of the husband's impending blindness and re-create their lives in new ways of usefulness & joy."
What a lovely book! This is the reason we haunt used bookstores and check out tattered old hardbacks. I recognized the author's name when I saw this in our local used bookstore - I'd read and enjoyed some of her children's books back in the day. When I read online that it was the memoir of her life on a New Englnd farm I knew I had to get it. At that time the store was under new management and remodeling, and the clerk had no idea what to charge me so she gave it to me. (I was purchasing a stack of pbs, too.) What a lovely gift!
The author lived an interesting life, hiking around Europe and having numerous experiences with her businessman husband, until he began to go blind. Told he should reduce his stress, they decided to follow their dream and buy an old house and some land in New England. This book is the story of their first year on that land. It's filled with lovely interactions with nature, good neighbors, difficulties, dogs, and lots of love. It's right up my alley and I hugged it to me when I finished it.
The Lighted Heart won't be everybody's cup of tea, but if you love Gladys Taber, Miss Read, or quiet books that slowly unfold, you should try and track this down. It has a proud and permanent place on my shelf. And one day I'll pass it to my daughter, who will love it, too.
What a lovely book! This is the reason we haunt used bookstores and check out tattered old hardbacks. I recognized the author's name when I saw this in our local used bookstore - I'd read and enjoyed some of her children's books back in the day. When I read online that it was the memoir of her life on a New Englnd farm I knew I had to get it. At that time the store was under new management and remodeling, and the clerk had no idea what to charge me so she gave it to me. (I was purchasing a stack of pbs, too.) What a lovely gift!
The author lived an interesting life, hiking around Europe and having numerous experiences with her businessman husband, until he began to go blind. Told he should reduce his stress, they decided to follow their dream and buy an old house and some land in New England. This book is the story of their first year on that land. It's filled with lovely interactions with nature, good neighbors, difficulties, dogs, and lots of love. It's right up my alley and I hugged it to me when I finished it.
The Lighted Heart won't be everybody's cup of tea, but if you love Gladys Taber, Miss Read, or quiet books that slowly unfold, you should try and track this down. It has a proud and permanent place on my shelf. And one day I'll pass it to my daughter, who will love it, too.
May 15, 2024
This is one of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time. I did not to know what to expect with this old book I discovered at a library sale, but I was enchanted by this story.
Elizabeth Yates writes a memoir about her and husband’s move to a homestead in New England as they simultaneously learn to work the land and come to terms with and thrive through her husband’s blindness. The descriptions of nature as they tap maple syrup for the first time, learn all about caring for chickens (they make it sound so simple!), and experience the joy of living season to season on the land are breathtaking. The love and grace and acceptance about her husband’s blindness and his life are astounding and encouraging.
So much to think about in all this, but I will end with this quote from Bill (husband who is blind) to a friend who has recently found out her brother is going blind….” your brother will be in a position for a while of having to accept much from others as a child does, as a person injured in any serious way must. Sometimes, for a grown person, this is hard, often embarrassing. But there is another way of looking at this. He will be giving people a chance to put love into action. Tell your brother to ask for help as naturally as a traveler would ask for directions, and to accept it as unconditionally. all that anyone of us really wants to do is to express love, but sometimes it is the most difficult thing. Your brother, because of his present need for help and understanding, is giving an opportunity to people to do just that.”
Elizabeth Yates writes a memoir about her and husband’s move to a homestead in New England as they simultaneously learn to work the land and come to terms with and thrive through her husband’s blindness. The descriptions of nature as they tap maple syrup for the first time, learn all about caring for chickens (they make it sound so simple!), and experience the joy of living season to season on the land are breathtaking. The love and grace and acceptance about her husband’s blindness and his life are astounding and encouraging.
So much to think about in all this, but I will end with this quote from Bill (husband who is blind) to a friend who has recently found out her brother is going blind….” your brother will be in a position for a while of having to accept much from others as a child does, as a person injured in any serious way must. Sometimes, for a grown person, this is hard, often embarrassing. But there is another way of looking at this. He will be giving people a chance to put love into action. Tell your brother to ask for help as naturally as a traveler would ask for directions, and to accept it as unconditionally. all that anyone of us really wants to do is to express love, but sometimes it is the most difficult thing. Your brother, because of his present need for help and understanding, is giving an opportunity to people to do just that.”
May 17, 2021
This book came as a breath of fresh air! Although nothing actually happened, it was easy to read because it was so well-written.
August 16, 2025
A very pleasant, calming read. I loved the abundance of nature within the story.
March 23, 2011
The story of the author's life as a young married woman, when her husband was losing his eyesight. She tells of the house they bought in New England and the life they made for themselves. Very absorbing. Probably impossible to find a copy of this book now. The copy I read was checked out of the Omaha public Library. Your local library is probably your best bet for find a copy. I do recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews