A Storied Beginning

Charles Joseph Finger entered the world on a festive December 25, 1869, in the quaint town of Willesdon, England, born to Charles H. and Julia Connolly Finger. The vibrant streets of London witnessed his formative years as he pursued education at the esteemed King's College. His passion for music led him to Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany, where he honed his musical talents. In 1887, his adventurous spirit beckoned him across the Atlantic to the United States, where he eagerly embraced citizenship by 1896.

Adventures on the High Seas

In the throes of his youth, Finger embarked on a captivating journey aboard a merchant vessel, tracing the legendary path of Magellan. His travels whisked him away to the mysterious lands of Africa, and he immersed himself in the vibrant cultures of South America, lending his expertise as a guide for ornithological explorations.

Life in America

Upon his stateside return, Finger's journey led him to Texas, where he assumed the role of director at the Conservatory of Music in San Angelo. Love bloomed, and on June 7, 1902, he wed Nellie B. Ferguson. Yet, the call of adventure was irresistible, and by 1905, he found himself traversing the rugged terrains of Alaska, fervently seeking gold amidst the Klondike's riches. This intrepid journey paved the way for him to become the general manager of the Ohio Southeastern System of Railroads, a position he held from 1906 until 1920.

The Writer Emerges

As life unfolded, Finger's passions shifted towards the literary. He settled on a serene farm nestled in the Ozark Mountains, near Fayetteville, Arkansas. Here, surrounded by his five children, he devoted himself to writing. A man of learning, Finger earned his doctor of literature degree from Knox College in 1921. The following year, he curated a poetry anthology titled The Choice of the Crowd, and penned both short stories and songs. His creative spirit also brought forth a unique one-man magazine, All's Well, which he diligently published from 1920 to 1935. In recognition of his literary contributions, he was awarded a doctor of laws degree from the University of Arkansas in 1931.

A Prolific Author

Finger's literary legacy encompasses an impressive collection of thirty-five books, spanning genres from children's tales to adventure narratives, and from historical romances to travel books. His masterful collection of folktales, Tales from Silver Lands, garnered him the prestigious 1925 Newbery Medal. In 1929, the Longmans, Green and Company Prize celebrated his historical romance, Courageous Companions, a riveting tale of a young boy's global voyage with Magellan. Among his children's literature, Give a Man a Horse (1937) earned the distinction of Honor Book at the 1938 New York Herald Tribune's Spring Book Festival.

Final Chapters

In 1936, Finger's illustrious career led him to Chicago, where he became managing editor for the Bellows-Reeve Company and served as an editor for Newbery Press. The curtain fell on his eventful life on January 8, 1941, when he succumbed to a heart attack near Fayetteville, Arkansas, leaving behind a legacy of literary brilliance and adventure.