Patty's Motor Car

First published in 1911, ‘Patty’s Motor Car’ is the ninth in the wholesome ‘Patty Fairfield’ children’s series by Carolyn Wells. Patty enters and wins a contest to win a car in which she has lots of adventures. There is also fun to be had when all her friends come to visit her in her new family summer house on the beach. Patty also celebrates her nineteenth birthday in this story, and her relationships begin to develop.



Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) was a prolific American novelist and poet, best known for her children’s literature, mystery novels and humorous verse. Following school in New Jersey, Wells worked as a librarian, where she developed her love of reading. It was during 1896 that Wells' first book ‘At the Sign of the Sphinx’ was published. From 1900 she dedicated herself to her literary career, writing over 170 novels in total across a range of genres. Some of her most loved works include the ‘Patty Fairfield’ and ‘Marjorie Maynard’ series for girls, as well as the ‘Fleming Stone’ mystery series for adults. Wells is also well-known for her humorous nonsense verse, and was a frequent contributor of verse to magazines. She published an autobiography ‘The Rest of my Life’ in 1937. Wells died in New York City in 1942.