Olive Harper was the pen name of Ellen Burrell D'Apery (1842–1915), an American author, journalist, and poet who was active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Writing under her pseudonym, she built a diverse literary career that spanned multiple popular genres, including mystery, detective fiction, and early science fiction. Her work as a journalist and poet complemented her prolific output as a novelist, making her a versatile figure in the popular print culture of her era.
Harper's original novels showcased her ability to navigate different narrative styles and thematic elements. Among her notable standalone works are A Fair Californian, published in 1889, followed by The Show Girl: Or, the Cap of Fortune in 1902, and the speculative work The Sociable Ghost in 1903. These publications established her presence in the competitive turn-of-the-century American literary market, where readers eagerly consumed tales of mystery and the supernatural.
In addition to her original fiction, Harper became highly active in writing novelizations of popular contemporary stage plays. She frequently adapted the theatrical works of prominent dramatists of the era, most notably those written by Owen Davis. Her novelizations, which included titles like The Gambler of the West (1906) and King of the Bigamists (1909), helped bridge the gap between the American stage and the printed page, bringing popular theatrical narratives directly to a wider reading public.
