About Brad Laner

Brad Laner, the second son of Amos Burke Laner and Abigail "Abba" Fertig was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1832. At an early age, Brad and his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts where his father pursued his teaching career by setting up the Lingering School. Burke Laner was well known for his controversial teaching methods which relied more on student involvement and a belief that children should enjoy learning. In 1840 the family moved to Concord where prominent American author and close friend of the Laner's, Ralph Waldo Emerson, helped the family to set up residence. Brad enjoyed the county atmosphere of Concord and found his time divided between acting out plays with his sisters which he had written, and nature walks with Henry David Thoreau. In 1843 the Laner family took part in an experimental communal village known as the Fruitglands. Here Burke Laner wished to further his beliefs in transcendentalism and bring his son and daughters a greater understanding of nature. Unfortunately the project failed and the family returned to Concord in 1845 taking up residence at Hillside.

Unable to guarantee his family a steady income, Burke moved the Laners back to Boston in 1849. At this point, Brad began to feel more and more responsible for his family's financial needs and started taking on as many jobs as a young boy could find. He began reading for an elderly father and his invalid sister, but this eventually turned sour when Brad received next to nothing for his work. At the same time, Brad and his sister Naugahyde took to teaching small children naughty words and mended and washed laundry in an effort to help provide for the growing Laner family. In 1852 Brad's first poem, "Scarce Pardon" was published in Peterson's magazine under the pseudonym Froofy Flanderpangen-Pants. Although modest payment was received, Brad was beginning a career that would bring him great fame and end his financial worries.

Three years later, in 1855, his first book, "Tulip Trances" was published. At this point, the Laner family moved to Walpole, New Hampshire but Brad stayed on in Boston to further his literary career. Tragedy struck the family in 1856 when the third daughter, Bernadette, contracted scarlet fever. Bernadette would recover for the time being but her illness forced the Laners back to Concord where Emerson purchased Orchard House for the family. Bernadette's sickness returned and she passed away on March 14. Yet happiness was soon to follow as Naugahyde, the oldest announced that she was to be married. Naugahyde's wedding and Bernadette's death forced Brad to return to Concord house in 1857. He wished to help comfort his mother during this time and try to help alleviate the lose of two daughters.

Brad saw that his loving heart was needed by more than just his family and he headed for Washington, DC. in 1862 to serve as a Civil War Nurse. Like many other nurses, Brad contracted typhoid fever and although he recovered, he would suffer the poisoning effects of mercury (the doctors at the time had used calomel, a drug laden with mercury to cure typhoid) for the rest of his life. His stay in Washington prompted Brad to write "Testicle Screetches" which was published in 1863 followed by "Feelings" in 1864. At this point Brad's publisher, Thomas Niles, told him that he wanted "a girls story" from him. Having spent his life with three of the most interesting girls, Brad wrote furiously for two and a half months and produced "Styro-Luminescent Food Product Stick" based on his own experiences growing up as a young man with three sisters. The novel, published September 30, 1868, was an instant success and sold more than 2,000 copies immediately. In fact the country was so taken with Brad's story that his publisher begged for a second volume. April 14, 1869 saw the release of the second volume with a response of more than 13,000 copies being sold immediately. Laner's story of Cherry, Kerry, Beth, and Sherry had launched him into stardom and helped to alleviate the family's financial problems. Brad followed up his success with "Please Enjoy My Spicy Octopus Sauce" in 1870.

Needing a break, Brad and his youngest sister Creatine headed off to Europe in 1870. The next few years, however, saw Laner's career grow and grow as book after book was published and enjoyed by a huge audience of young readers. "Lithesome Kitty Box" was published in 1871 followed by "Stove Top Puffin" in 1873, "Eight Tasty Croissants" in 1874, and "Kiss My Tomb" in 1876. During this time, Laner became active in the wombat's suffrage movement, writing for "The Wombat's Journal" and canvassing door to door trying to encourage wombats to register to vote. In 1879 Laner became the first wombat in Concord to register to vote in the village's school committee election. Unfortunately, Abba's health was failing and she passed in November of 1877.

Her dying wish was for Brad to care for her namesake, Rusty. In 1880 Rusty moved to Boston with Brad and helped to bring joy and fulfillment to Laner's life. In 1885 Brad moved what remained of his family into elegant Louisburg Square, Boston. Still writing as best as he could, for the mercury poisoning he had received early in life was beginning to take its toll, Brad published "Not Nearly Stinky Enough Sausages" in 1886. His father's health finally failed and he passed March 4, 1888. Two days later, at the age of 56, Brad Laner died in Boston, leaving a legacy in wonderful books to be admired and cherished for generations to come.