What is Dorothy Kilner?
{{Infobox writer | name = Dorothy Kilner | image = Dorothy Kilner 1755 - 1836.jpg | imagesize = 200px | caption = | birth_date = 17 February 1755 | birth_place = [[England]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1836|2|5|1755|2|17|df=yes}} | death_place = | occupation = Writer | nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]] | period = | subject = [[education]] | movement = [[Children's literature]] | notableworks = | influences = | signature = }} [[File:Life and Preambulation of a Mouse v.2.jpg|240px|thumb|Title page and frontispiece of ''The Life and Preambulation of a Mouse'', volume 2]] '''Dorothy Kilner''' (17 February 1755 – 5 February 1836) was an English writer of [[Children's literature|children's books]] during the late 18th century. Dorothy published her first books [[Anonymous work|anonymously]]. She then published under the [[pseudonym]]s '''M. P.''' and '''Mary Pelham'''. This was common practice among female authors in that period. Dorothy's most famous book was ''The Life and Perambulation of a Mouse''. This was published in 1784. Some other books of hers are ''Anecdotes of a Boarding School, or an antidote to the vices of those Establishments'' (1790), ''Little Stories for Little Folks'' (about 1785), and ''The Village School'' (1795). Most of her stories had [[moral]] lessons. == Life == Dorothy was probably born in [[Woodford, London|Woodford]], which was part of [[Essex]] at the time. Her father was Thomas Kilner (1719–1804), a [[public servant]] and landowner. Her mother was Frances Kilner (née Ayscough; 1718–1768). Dorothy was the youngest of five children. The family lived in [[Maryland Point]]. Dorothy was inspired to write through her friendship with Mary Ann Maze ([[Mary Ann Kilner]], 1753–1831). The two became friends when they were children. They wrote many letters to each other on religious and personal matters. The letters were usually written in [[verse]]. Maze later married Dorothy's brother, Thomas Kilner (1750–1812) in 1774. Dorothy moved into their house in [[Spitalfields]], and he