As Green As Grass

Emma Smith was born Elspeth Hallsmith in Newquay, Cornwall, England on August 23, 1923. During World War II, she worked the War Office and volunteered to crew canal boats carrying vital supplies along the Grand Union Canal. After the war, she worked as a runner-cum-secretary for screenwriter Laurie Lee.

Her first book, Maidens' Trip, was published in 1948 and won the John Llewellyn Rhys prize. Her other books included The Far Cry, The Opportunity of a Lifetime, and a series of children's books. Her memoirs included The Great Western Beach and As Green as Grass: Growing Up Before, During and After the Second World War. She died on April 24, 2018 at the age of 94.

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